The Recap: Kansas 101, Hofstra 65

While Hofstra was better last year than the other Big 12 opponents mentioned, it wasn't dramatically so.

Last year, my computer analysis (similar to Sagarin's) had Hofstra as #173 in the country, at 66.8% as good as the best team.

Idaho State was #188, with a 66.0% rating.
Loyola-Chicago was #205, with a 64.6% rating.
Norfolk State was #307, with a 56.1% rating.
Arkansas Pine Bluff was #321, with a 54.6% rating.

Thanks for the additional analysis - keep it up!

November 17, 2009 at 6:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Brady Morningstar delivers open letter to KU fans

Dear Brady,

What an excellent letter of apology this is. It was a mistake that suddenly became very public, so thanks for making such a public apology. I don't feel you "owed" this to us, so it really speaks to your character and integrity that you did so. I'm proud to know you're a Jayhawk, and I'm proud that you're associated with our team. I'm sure you'll do very well in life, and I wish you the very best in everything.

You'll have a bummer of a time for a while, since Coach is a man of integrity too, so he's going to be consistent about the discipline he set forth. Keep in mind, while you're waiting to get back into the lineup, this difficult time will only strengthen your character. The fans are already totally behind you. And when you set foot on the court, we'll still be totally behind you.

Thanks again, Brady. I've got a lot of respect for you.

God bless, and best wishes.

Sincerely,
Tuskin

October 8, 2009 at 7:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Twin transformation

Nice blurb on Hudy here:

http://www.kuathletics.com/genrel/hud...

August 31, 2009 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Woolridge’s coach doesn’t buy recruit’s ranking

"(Bill Self and Roy Williams), have won the last three NCAA rings."

You must be counting 2010 in that three. Florida won in '07.

August 28, 2009 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Collins better get in shape

I think Mayer's paycheck depends on the number of responses he gets on this board. Here's another quarter for you, Bill!

How about using it for a phone call to the players? Interview them about how Coach Manning works with them. That would be a nice read.

July 17, 2009 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Self comments on Henry situation

Xavier and CJ, you can definitely come to KU with no ill-will toward you from the fans. Here's how: come practice with the team, give a very brief press conference to say that your dad said some things that he probably shouldn't have, and you're not going to get into which of those things might or might not have been true.

The Star article and the media firestorm it caused? They had nothing to do with anything either of you said - just various quotes from your dad. Point that out, and the Kansas fans will rally to you.

But practicing with the team next week would sure go a long way to ending rumors and reassuring your nervous fan base.

On the other hand, if you decide that Kentucky is the place for you, good luck there.

But wherever you go, don't visit basketball blogs and chat rooms. When you play a game, 13,000 people cheer if you hit a shot, and they say, "ohh," if you miss. But on the internet, they write their "ohh," and you get to read pages and pages of the 13,000 people expressing their frustration with that miss. Wherever you go, listen to your coach. He'll tell you what you need to know to get better.

Especially if it's Coach Self.

Rock Chalk!

June 30, 2009 at 10:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Higher court: Former Jayhawk Wayne Simien turns away from pro career for ministry work

As far as I know, my church did not take a political stance on the war or on torture. I would guess that most churches did not speak out on these issues. Should they have? If this question were posed to a church's membership, there would certainly be a wide variety of responses. I see two major disadvantages to churches becoming politically involved. One, secular folks perceive that their religious counterparts are trying to fashion this country into a religious nation. Two, religious folks begin to be swept up in other political positions that are less clearly defensible, which I also see in current events. Tax policy? The health care system? These are issues where my faith brings me to a conclusion, but should churches take public stances on them?

I don't know that I believe churches should be so politically active, but I am much more comfortable with church members being politically outspoken, even to the point of citing words from Scripture supporting their point.

Unnecessary wars are an evil that incites further hatred and violence. And torture? Even if someone thinks it might be effective, torture must never be employed. As the saying goes: Take care, that while fighting the dragon, you BECOME the dragon. The US lost a lot of moral high ground when it stooped to using torture.

If you're interested in a good historical read, try "Hansi, the Girl Who Loved the Swastika." She was part of Hitler's brainwashed youth, and when she first met American soldiers in the aftermath of the war, she was hugely impressed by their goodness. They took care of her and her friend, while soldiers of other nations were known for raping German civilian women. She later became a patriotic American citizen because of the goodness Americans showed her.

Incidentally, she writes that Hitler's war machine pushed hard to squelch religion. They encouraged her to leave behind her Christianity. "Stop praying, and see if anything is different the next day." She did that, and when she didn't perceive a sudden change, she stopped praying entirely and rejected Christianity. Her parents (quietly) opposed Hitler because his war machine ravaged faith.

Hansi points out that most German Christians quietly opposed Hitler, but they did not speak out because of fear. Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a very noteworthy exception, and he was imprisoned and killed because of his outspokenness - and because he tried to kill Hitler.

But I digress. Bottom line is, if a nation ever tries to win a long-term peace after a war, it has to win hearts and minds. I believe the way to do that is through goodness. If war is necessary, it must be conducted with care for civilians, and without torture.

Chime in, everyone. Should churches take political stances?

June 1, 2009 at 9:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Higher court: Former Jayhawk Wayne Simien turns away from pro career for ministry work

Jaybate, you've raised a very interesting "three points." We could discuss these points for hours.

Yes, I am personally on the record as opposing the Iraq war and torture. While Bush worked his 80%+ approval rating to start the Iraq war, I vocally declared it to be wrong. It seemed to me that, even if the allegations were correct, Hussein was contained, and UN inspectors were preventing further weapons development. I was, and still am, concerned about the needless loss of civilian life. Further, my reading of history in that region (even from thousands of years ago) is that puppet governments in that region do not fare well in the long term. Bush and various senators didn't return my letters.

In my view, going to war with, as you put it, "documented lies," was a case of misdirection. I don't believe the stated reasons for war were ever the actual reasons. We know that Cheney, Wolfowitz, and others had agreed years earlier that attacking Iraq was a laudible goal, but they'd need something like another Pearl Harbor for it to be politically viable. I personally believe the actual reason we invaded Iraq was that our leaders were hopeful that the monarchies of the Middle East would topple into democracy just as the former Soviet bloc did. If that happens in the next 20 years, I am willing to concede that their war of choice may have had significant benefits. However, it still seems unlikely to me that this will be the result. Rather, ongoing and renewed hatred seem to be a more likely result.

June 1, 2009 at 9:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Higher court: Former Jayhawk Wayne Simien turns away from pro career for ministry work

Correction: Greed and revenge are the causes of virtually every major war in the history of mankind. Often, leaders of wars have cried out one religion or another to gain more support for their cause.

But it's interesting to note that, in its infancy, Christianity did not spread by war. It spread as believers were tortured and killed for declaring what they believed in, even as Jesus was. With only John as the exception, every one of the original apostles was tortured and killed, still refusing to deny Jesus and his teaching. Many other believers met the same fate, too.

June 1, 2009 at 11:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Higher court: Former Jayhawk Wayne Simien turns away from pro career for ministry work

I'm very excited for Wayne. He's following his heart and moving up. Congratulations, Wayne, on not being mastered by money and adoring fans. The things you treasure cannot be stolen or motheaten.

Give, using a ladle as big as your heart!

May 31, 2009 at 12:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )