Friday Randoms:
- Excellent
Clay Travis article on the future of ESPN. Not the biggest Travis fan, but his pieces on sports media are always tremendous. Basically, ESPN has over-leveraged themselves with all these huge contracts with NFL, NBA, etc. and are getting killed by people cutting the cord as well as the fact the vast majority of people would never pay for ESPN individually.
- UK-Auburn at the same time as WV @ Oklahoma Saturday. Oh well.
- At least we know Pearl isn't going to slow it down and throw a 2-3 at us. That game last year was probably the most entertaining game of the year.
- Speaking of which- all these ranked team road woes just remind you how good we were last year. It's so hard for 20-year-olds to maintain focus and/or overcome those times when they lack it. It's a shame that one loss will take the shine off how great that squad was. To me, it wasn't the Kansas/WestVirginia/etc domination that was so impressive, it was the consistency. That's what makes the greatest great.
- Udoka Azubuike and Kobi Simmons announcing this weekend and looking like FSU and Arizona. It's a crime how little Hamilton does with all the talent he steals.. Oh well, Kansas and UNC continue to stumble around like drunkards on the recruiting trail. Works for me.
- I still say Kansas is the favorite to win despite their haphazard point guard, deficiencies and silly frontcourt rotations. UNC is there, too. Amazing offense, Brice Johnson has become a beast and Paige/Jackson (when bringing it) are a tough combo to stop. Of course, their D leaves a lot to be desired. Maryland is there, too, as they have the best player from the three squads and most talented/balanced starting 5 overall.
Really think it's wide open, though.
- Current Netflix rotation: Sherlock and rewatching Happy Endings. Both are terrific.
- Have relaxed my "no watching games in public" policy this year for a few reasons- first I've realized these games aren't life-and-death for this team. We're building toward March. I have to come to grips with that. This team is likely a 3/4 seed, maybe even a 5. Secondly, watching games in public actually relaxes me a little bit. Last, because of my personal schedule and **** going on, it's worked out like that.
- Pumped to see Jaimanthony here in a few weeks. Been too long.
- The lass got me a set of these for Christmas, only with the map of Lexington. Very thoughtful and cool gift. Even have the bourbon-weary lady enjoying the occasional old fashioned now. Maybe I'll make Anth one.