**OK, so hear this one out. It might sound entirely off the wall,** but, you know what? It just might work. Nay, it _will_ work. And man, oh man, would it be entertaining.Tom Keegan hit on a solid point of emphasis in his [Sunday column,][1] saying [Bill Self’s][2] team needs some nastiness, some attitude and, basically, someone to get under not only their opponents’ skin, but also their teammates’ skin to the point that it motivates them further.Tom’s lead to the story, reading as an open letter to the KU student body seeking someone with a mean streak the size of Kansas, on a sidenote requires that all applicants need a significant amount of athletic ability and some semblance of basketball skill.Guess what? Such a cat exists.And guess what else? He happens to be pretty free right about now. For a couple more months, actually.His name is [Aqib Talib.][3] The same Aqib Talib who [led the nation this fall in passes defended][4] with 28 for the 6-6 Jayhawks. The same Aqib Talib who picked off six passes this year and was just this weekend named a [second-team All-American by _Sports Illustrated_][5] (and one of just 11 sophomores to be named on the 26-man first- or second-team rosters). More importantly, it’s the same Aqib Talib who loves, loves, _loves_ to talk.Whether it’s talking trash on the field to the receiver he happens to be clowning on any given Saturday afternoon, or giving the gaggles of media a wealth of money quotes after a game, Talib’s high-pitched, 100-word-a-minute signature voice has a constantly-pressed play button.But don’t be misled. Talib is pretty smart with what he says. He’s got media savvy. Sure, when KU wins, he’ll gloat, but he won’t come out and publicly call anyone out after a loss. His words have positive effect.Oh yeah, and he can hoop. He lettered in basketball in at Berkner high school in Richardson, Texas, and has the athleticism to be an effective practice player for Bill Self.But more than adding an über-athletic body at practice, he’d bring that same voice on a daily basis. He’d get in [Brandon Rush’s][6] face. He’d contest and yap at every shot [Mario Chalmers][7] or [Russell Robinson][8] even considers throwing up. And he’d definitely stick on [Sherron Collins][9] everytime he goes up for one of his could-be-a-highlight-if-it-falls layups.The key component there, though, is that he’ll let them know about it every single time. He’ll make them mad. He’ll get in their faces and not think twice about it. He’ll insult their mamas and their girlfriends until they can’t take it anymore.And they’ll be better for it, having added some verbal grit and grime into what is really just a melting pot of former All-Americans and blue chip recruits. He’d be the dirt under the Jayhawks’ fingernails.That’s not saying he’d ever contribute valuable minutes in a game situation, but aside from having another professional-caliber athlete on the practice floor five times a week, Bill Self would have the attitude that his team so-badly requires, and one heckuva trash talker plopped on the end of the bench.And it wouldn’t even cost him a scholarship (Talib’s already got one for football, but don’t expect it to be used for more than another year. The NFL is a callin’).Just a thought…**And about this 10-day layoff for the Jayhawks,** [The Greene Room][10] is making a prediction that if this year’s men’s basketball squad will snap out of its current sluggish funk, expect it to happen in the period between its next game – Dec. 19 against [Winston-Salem State][11] – and its third conference game – Jan. 15 at home with [Missouri][12] in town.Why?Because distractions will be fewer and farther in-between during that timeframe.From Dec. 19 to Jan. 15, KU plays eight games, but it’s also the time in which KU students, which in case you forgot includes the 14 players on the men’s hoops roster, are on winter break.That means no classes, fewer people around and, ultimately, not much to channel focus into other than basketball.A year ago, Kansas played the same amount of games during the winter break doldrums, going 6-2, finishing that stretch with back-to-back losses at home against Kansas State and [on the road against Mizzou,][13] surely games which no one has forgotten. Though it also included a [non-conference home pasting of Kentucky][14] by nearly 30 points.This year’s winter break slate is no easier than last year’s. After playing the mighty Rams, KU welcomes [Boston College][15] two days before Christmas. It’s the same Boston College team which just [knocked Maryland from the top-25 polls.][16]There will be a Jan. 7 non-conference finale at [South Carolina,][17] followed by the Big 12 opener three days later at home against [Oklahoma State][18] – two teams who play a very similar style of basketball. KU also travels to always-troublesome Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, in that month-long stretch.For KU a year ago, it was those last two games over winter break which led to the Jayhawks winning 15 of their next 16 games. This team has a similar mix compared to the 2005-06 group in the sense that leadership is much-needed. And with life in general slowed down over the next month for the KU ballers, this would be the ideal time for it to emerge, with all things considered.**Before signing off, back to Aqib Talib’s verbal potent potables.** It’s been weeks and [The Greene Room][10] is still tickled by what was hands-down the greatest quote dropped by any of KU’s gridsters this year.It came after the [39-20 win over Kansas State][19] when Aqib Talib summed up the Jayhawks’ defensive backfield performance as “One word….BALLLINNN!”For some outside reference, the quote and jumpshot celebration stems back to Jim Jones’ hip-hop single “We Fly High/Reppin'”, and was ultimately brought to national prominence by the NFL’s New York Giants. Heck, Jones even recovered a [super-cheesy remix][20] for the playoff contenders.Talib simply gave it some local flavor.And on that, it shouldn’t go away.Use it in everyday situations. You know, at work if you send off a fax or close a sale, simply turn around, hop in the air and simulate a jumper, screaming “Ballinnn!” at the top of your lungs, forcing heads to turn left and right.After finding out you got a D-minus and passed your history final? You know what to do.That quote was simply too good to fade into oblivion.See you in a week.**_KUSports.com editor Ryan Greene can be reached at rgreene@ljworld.com, or by phone at (785) 832-6357._** [1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2006/dec/10/keegan_kansas_needs_nasty/?sports_columns [2]: http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/self_bill00.html [3]: http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/talib_aqib00.html [4]: http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2006&div=4&rpt=IA_playerpassesdefended&site=org [5]: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/ncaa/12/07/all.americans/index.html [6]: http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/rush_brandon00.html [7]: http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/chalmers_mario00.html [8]: http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/robinson_russell00.html [9]: http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/collins_sherron00.html [10]: http://www2.kusports.com/blogs/greene_room/ [11]: http://wssurams.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/wssu-m-baskbl-body.html [12]: http://mutigers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/miss-m-baskbl-main.html [13]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2006/jan/17/deja_vu_mizzou/?mens_basketball [14]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2006/jan/08/what_rush/?mens_basketball [15]: http://bceagles.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/bc-m-baskbl-body.html [16]: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/recap;_ylt=AmH3ZFUwha3jqJJzg726rhDevbYF?gid=200612100058&prov=ap [17]: http://uscsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/scar-m-baskbl-body.html [18]: http://www.okstate.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=200&KEY=&SPID=145&SPSID=1463 [19]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2006/nov/19/ku_bowls_over_cats/ [20]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncc26_2e-KA&mode=related&search=
