Josh's '08-'09 Razorback Basketball Preview

Late fall and here we are---the start of another college basketball season. As area eyes turn toward this year's Arkansas Razorback hoops team, the comparisons are easy to the current not-so-fun football season: a young team growing in front of our eyes as it gains experience, losing a lot more than you'd like them to. But the goal in Fayetteville these days---regardless of sport---is to build for legitimate national title runs in the near-future, and in John Pelphrey's second season as head coach of the Hogs, it's likely fans at Bud Walton Arena will find a club molded way more closely in his image than last year's rag-tag bunch of Stan Heath holdovers.

Gone are seven of the minute-heavy players from last year's rotation; in are a bunch of new faces. A scary but true fact is that there are no seniors on this year's Razorback roster. None. Kind of astonishing when you think about it. No familiar faces. No Sonny Weems or Charles Thomas. No Darian Townes or Steven Hill. Not even my boy P-Bev. (Have fun in the Ukraine, Patrick.)

Watching Arkansas narrowly escape last Friday's home opener against SE Louisiana with a 91-87 overtime win was a game of memorizing new faces and jersey numbers, and probably created more questions than it answered, but in the grand scheme of things, these games are judged by who wins and who loses, and not at all by how you look doing it. In the words of Coach Pelphrey following the season-opener, "a young bunch showed a tremendous amount of heart" in rallying from nine points down with under three minutes left to grab the win. And maybe gave itself a little bit of team definition in the process. Tonight against California-Davis, I got another chance to watch the new group at Bud Walton. A fast-paced first half favored a vastly quicker Arkansas team, but the tempo of the game slowed in the second and a few long ball trifectas from the Big West crew kept it close and forced the Hogs to gut out another relatively close one 68-59 for its second win of the season. Back-to-back road games at Missouri State and South Alabama will tell us a lot more about this team over the next ten days, but here are some of my initial early season thoughts. We'll break it down by position:

PG: The shiniest bright spot on this year's team is freshman Courtney Fortson. Alabama's high school "Mr. Basketball" last year, Fortson is a speedy dribble-driver who attacks the basket with reckless abandon. He has tremendous court vision for a young playmaker, and gets the ball to teammates in effective shooting positions. A significant all-around upgrade from last year's erratic point Gary Ervin, Fortson's energy is boundless and spreads infectiously to teammates. The backup is sophomore Marcus Britt. All hustle and defense last year, Britt's jumpshot looks improved after a summer of hard work. He should spell Fortson ably for brief stretches this year and may get extra minutes as a go-to defensive stopper again.

SG: This was supposed to be Patrick Beverley's breakthrough season. The one in which he finally put it all together and became the NBA caliber player we always thought he could be. Instead, he got kicked out of school for academic misconduct and left the position to another potentially great player in Rotnei Clarke. Clarke is the ice cold shooter to complement Courtney Fortson's fiery temperament. It's amazing to think about what the two of them could achieve together over a four year period at Arkansas, should the college basketball gods allow it to happen, of course. With Clarke, the Hogs have got a fighting chance to shoot themselves into a game with anyone.

The all-time leading scorer in his state's high school history, Rotnei told us last month during a live half-hour appearance on The Huddle at Media Day that he "always knew the University of Arkansas was a great place to play basketball, but I don't think I fully understood the scale of it till I came and visited a few times. I just feel like once you visit (Bud Walton), no other college compares. It's like a palace." Clearly respectful of the Woo Pig Sooie tradition, Clarke is every bit the lethal shooter he's cracked up to be. A lifelong gym rat, he has perfected a quick trigger release that enables him to get off clean shots against the many defenders bigger than his 5'11 frame. Junior swingman Stefan Welsh returns as much experience as anyone on the team. He'll get the bulk of starts early in the year in Pelphrey's three guard lineup as the head coach fleshes out his new-look rotation. Only 6'3, Welsh is too short to regularly defend opposing small forwards in the SEC, but his long range shooting touch should allow the Hogs to stretch opposing defenses away from the paint, clearing things up for big man Michael Washington down low.

SF: An extremely weak position for Arkansas this year. Last year's team leader Sonny Weems was the glue that kept it all together, so much so that he's on the Denver Nuggets now. He keyed the team's offense, defense and energy. That's a lot to lose. Prized Virginia high school recruit Marshawn Powell (6'7) will be given every opportunity to lock the swing spot down when he arrives on campus next season, but that's no help this year. For now it's up to the likes of Jason Henry and Montrell McDonald to chip in minutes at the '3.' Both players have the size and athleticism to help out defensively and on the glass, but neither has shown a lot of composure offensively yet. Henry is a 6'7 freshman originally from West Memphis who could be a solid contributor in time, while McDonald is a junior college transfer with only one year of eligibility left after this season. He can jump through the roof, but still plays a little out of control when forced to put the ball on the floor.

PF: Almost de facto, it's Michael Sanchez at this position with not a lot of help. The redshirt freshman from Springdale is a hometown kid with all the hustle and scrappiness you want from a power forward. He's a rugged rebounder who gets the garbage baskets down low (a la the departed Charles Thomas), but doesn't command the basketball in the flow of the offense. Every team needs a role player like that. The problem is, Sanchez is prone to foul trouble. If he can't learn quickly to keep those hacking tendencies in check, the Hogs are going to get exposed down low---badly. Freshmen big men Brandon Moore and Andre Clark don't seem ready to contribute key minutes yet.

C: Amazing how much difference a year makes at a given position. Nowhere is that any more apparent than at center for Arkansas. The last four years with Steven Hill and Darian Townes, the Hogs had two seven-footers and four players who could claim heights of 6'9 or more. This time around, Michael Washington is tallest on the team at 6'10, and the only real prized possession down low. The versatile third-year Razorback has clearly improved his game considerably over the past couple of years and his confidence level is now at an all-time high. 30 points and 14 rebounds against SE Louisiana was a great start to the year, but nobody's expecting anywhere near those numbers on an everyday basis over the course of a season. The truth is, Washington is a gifted offensive rebounder and low-post defender who likes shooting the outside jumper too much for his own good. Still, if he can stay in the 18 point and 7 rebound per game range, UA's offense will be a lot better than people think. The problem here is the same as that of the '4' position: Washington must stay on the floor and out of foul trouble essentially all the time for the Hogs to have even a fighting chance against their better competition. With him on the bench, Arkansas's thin frontcourt gets severely exposed.

Coaching: John Pelphrey did a more than respectable job in his first year at Arkansas. Inheriting a group of players from a plodding, half-court style system and trying to get them to buy into a totally different way of doing things is a near impossible task. Getting to the NCAA Tournament and beating Indiana (before a blowout second round loss to North Carolina) was a nice conclusion with that bunch in year one. But year two will force Coach 'P' to show his coaching mettle more with players that are mostly his recruits. And greatly limited returning experience. And a perilously thin frontcourt. His young guns at guard will be asked to produce big numbers right away.

Offensively, some pundits still question the focus of what Pelphrey wants to do. Defensively, he needs to get his team to show more of the tenacity that he always played with at Kentucky. But motivationally, there's no doubt the guy is exceptionally skilled for such a young coach (he just turned 40). Put plainly, year two is a transitional stage for Pelphrey as he sets his sights on bigger things to come in years three and four. The pressure hasn't nearly turned up on him to this point, and shouldn't any time soon.

Outlook: Strange to say for Arkansas, but John Pelphrey's second year as head coach will likely result in fewer wins than his first year---yet with greater enthusiasm and excitement from the fans. Nothing against Stan Heath's aforementioned group of holdovers (they did win a first round NCAA game for Arkansas for the first time in almost a decade), but the dominant feeling among Hog fans was that their style of play didn't suit the prototypical image of Razorback basketball: fullcourt pressing, up-and-down offense, non-stop hustle . . . This newest batch of Hoop Hogs is so young and inexperienced that road bumps and hiccups are sure to be numerous along the way, albeit expected. It's hard to count on a fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament for Arkansas when the players have yet to even sort out their roles on the team.

How will the coaching staff compensate for an incredible lack of depth up front? And what exactly is John Pelphrey's offensive philosophy? Who takes the big shots at the ends of games? Who's the emotional leader on and off the court? Do they have the energy or manpower to press for long stretches? Lots of questions. Not a lot of answers yet. John Pelphrey's clearly got his work cut out for him, but he also has the patience of Razorback nation on his side. As new football coach Bobby Petrino learned this year, University of Arkansas fans will wait patiently if you show them progress---at least for a season or two.

-JAB

Josh' Mid-October Huddle Headlines

-Arkansas upsets Auburn, 25-22 on Saturday . . . At long last, something for Razorback football fans to rally around. After getting outscored a combined 139-31 over the last three games by Alabama, Texas and Florida, it was time for the Hogs to shake things up a bit. Coach Petrino's team did just that by shutting down the Tigers' vaunted ground attack, holding it to 56 yards on 33 carries. An end-around pass from WR Joe Adams to QB Casey Dick was the play of the game, but Michael Smith (all 5'6 of him) has proven he is a monster at tailback. 35 carries for 176 yards led the way in the upset. Six wins and a bowl game are still legitimate possibilities for this team.

-Basketball Media Day for the Razorbacks yesterday . . . We took The Huddle on location to Bud Walton Arena for some one-on-one interviews with Coach Pelphrey and the players. G Rotnei Clarke really impressed me with his composure on the air---and on the court. With his three-point shooting, Courtney Forston at the point, and Jason Henry slashing from the wing, the Hogs have a new look that should be tons of fun to watch develop this year.

-WR Roy Wiliams traded to Dallas today by Detroit . . . in exchange for 1st, 3rd, 6th & 7th round picks. That's a lot to give up by Jerry Jones, but in Owens and Williams, Dallas now has arguably the best WR combo in the game today.

-MLB Playoffs . . . Philadelphia and Tampa Bay for the World Series?!? Could very well be. Charlie Manuel's cheesesteak crew is exploding offensively right now---and getting timely pitching. But the Rays? That team has a Florida Marlins look to it in a big way: young, talented players going out there with no fear. Are the Red Sox dead yet? Absolutely not. But the defending champs need to find their pitching swagger again quick if they hope to repeat.

-JAB

Josh's 2008 NFL Predictions Part II: The NFC

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

NFC East

(y)-Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
(x)-Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
New York Giants (9-7)
Washington Redskins (5-11)

NFC North

(y)-Minnesota Vikings (11-5)
(x)-Green Bay Packers (10-6)
Detroit Lions (7-9)
Chicago Bears (5-11)

NFC South

(y)-New Orleans Saints (10-6)
Carolina Panthers (8-8)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)
Atlanta Falcons (3-13)

NFC West

(y)-Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
San Francisco 49ers (9-7)
Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
Saint Louis Rams (6-10)

(y- division winner x- wild card)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Playoffs:

1st Rd: Minnesota over Philly, Green Bay over New Orleans
2nd Rd: Dallas over Green Bay, Seattle over Minnesota

NFC Championship: Dallas over Seattle

Super Bowl XLIII:

Pittsburgh Steelers 31-24 over the Dallas Cowboys

Best Head Coach: Mike Holmgren, Seattle
Best Offensive Player: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Best Defensive Player: Patrick Willis, San Francisco
Best Rookie: Jonathan Stewart, Carolina

Josh's 2008 NFL Predictions Part I: The AFC

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

AFC East

(y)-New England Patriots (13-3)
New York Jets (8-8)
Buffalo Bills (7-9)
Miami Dolphins (5-11)

AFC North

(y)-Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
(x)-Cleveland Browns (9-7)
Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
Baltimore Ravens (4-12)

AFC South

(y)-Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
(x)-Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
Tennessee Titans (6-10)
Houston Texans (5-11)

AFC West

(y)-San Diego Chargers (11-5)
Denver Broncos (8-8)
Oakland Raiders (7-9)
Kansas City Chiefs (4-12)

(y- division winner x- wild card)

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Playoffs:

1st Rd: Indy over Cleveland, San Diego over Jacksonville
2nd Rd: Pittsburgh over Indy, San Diego over New England

AFC Championship: Pittsburgh over San Diego

Best Head Coach: Bill Belichick, New England
Best Offensive Player: Randy Moss, New England
Best Defensive Player: Mario Williams, Houston
Best Rookie: Darren McFadden, Oakland

-JAB

Football Returns: Arkansas Wins Opener

Beijing was cool. The Michael Phelps show is not something to be forgotten by sports fans any time soon. Baseball heads down another exciting stretch and the bad blood of Electioneering 2008 is getting in full swing.

But it's September now, and to me---the Sports Radio Guy---that means one thing rises above the rest: football is back! The College Ranks opened up last weekend and saw Arkansas start the Bobby Petrino era off with a 'W', albeit a hard fought 28-24 decision over I-AA Western Illinois. Surely you could hear the collective gasp of the 70,000 Hog fans in Fayetteville on Saturday night when the Hogs fell behind 24-14 with under ten minutes left. But there was Casey Dick, the senior, career baggage and all, calmly driving his team down the field for two critical touchdowns and a come from behind win.

Was it a repeat of Citadel? Not quite. But it sure wasn't pretty. Still, in the end, a win is a win is a win is a win. Ten years from now (maybe ten weeks) few will remember how Arkansas won the game; what will be remembered is that UA won.

It's going to be a long season for the Hogs. Bobby Petrino's first year is one of transition for the team on almost every level: new offense, new defense, new players, new way of doing things. But I firmly believe it's all going to work out. Six wins and six losses remains my season prediction for the Razorbacks in 2008. After Lousiana-Monroe this weekend, it's a ten game dogfight till the end of the year. No easy games on any SEC team's schedule, let alone on an Arkansas slate that also includes games against Texas and Tulsa. And yet, this year, the youth should win out. With so many freshman and sophomores playing key roles on both sides of the ball, there are going to be some major growing pains along the way, but most Razorback fans seem well aware of that.

It's a feisty team for Bobby Petrino this year. And a feisty .500 record would be just about right in his first season at the Hog helm. An SEC title in year four would be just what the football doctor ordered for the Natural State. Give it time, folks. Petrino will get us there eventually.

So college football's back already. High school play resumes tonight. And the NFL's first full Sunday of the season is just three days away.

Pigskin in the air . . . Who knew leather could smell so good?

-JAB

Brett Favre is a Jet

Excuse me if I'm not all giddy inside. Favre is 38 years old and was supposed to have played his last game just a couple months ago. As much as I love them, the Jets are a mediocre team that still has some major skill position holes to fill. I just don't see this marriage proving all that fruitful. Can he take New York to the playoffs in a tough as all get-out AFC? Maybe. To a Super Bowl? Lay off the Kool Aid.

There's no question the Ironman is a significant upgrade at quarterback over Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens. I've supported Chad for a long time in Gang Green & White, and the guy obviously has a lot of heart and courage to come back from so many major injuries the way he did. But Pennington is better suited as a backup somewhere else at this point in his career. As for Clemens, he may turn out to be a good NFL quarterback at some point down the road, but the jury's still way out for now. At the least, you've got to give the Jets credit for not giving up to much to upgrade the most important position on the field, if for only two years. (New York's compensation for Green Bay in a conditional third round draft pick.)

New York spent a lot of money rebuilding its front lines this past offseason---guards Alan Faneca and Damien Woody, tackle Kris Jenkins, linebackers Calvin Pace and Vernon Gholston---but the receivers and running backs aren't all that spectacular. If only we could've lost to Kansas City in that meaningless Week 17 victory . . . McFadden and Favre, now that would have been something.

Tune in to the show tonight at 4 PM. We'll have plenty more on the blockbuster Favre trade and the latest on Razorback practice.

-JAB

Three Hot New Summer Albums

Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III

The kid from the Big Easy is all growns up. Rhymes about making that cash, pimping that bling, and getting all the women have evolved; this is Lil Wayne stepping towards (early) middle age. Standout tracks include "Mr. Carter" with Jay-Z and "Tie My Hands" with Robin Thicke. Both songs are examples of the broad spectrum of content Wayne has brought to the table here. On "Mr. Carter", Lil Wayne and Jay-Z exchange verbal jabs about the state of hip hop over a simmering backbeat. It's club music at its best (unless you prefer global charttopper "Lollipop", which is also on the disc). "Tie My Hands" gives Wayne a chance to slice up the Hurricane Katrina disaster and its aftermath. The song is heartfelt and touching coming from a hometown boy.

Is Lil Wayne---as he proclaims---the best rapper alive? Maybe. He's certainly one of the few biggies left who really matter.

Josh's review: (4/5)


Coldplay, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

Chris Martin wants to be let into the Radiohead/U2 party so badly, but it's invitation only. On Viva, he does his best to earn an invite. Coldplay's first two albums were strong in quality and melody, but light on serious content. 2005's X & Y was a definite step backward, and the group came dangerously close to alienating its core fanbase with seemingly recycled songs. This time around, from the title alone, you can tell that Viva aspires for something more, and with producer Brian Eno at the helm, the album frequently gets there. Themes of death, war and lost love lay scattered amidst the wreckage of a sonic landscape that's creative and fresh. Is it a masterpiece? No. But songs like "Lost!" and "Strawberry Swing" show the group grabbing at all kinds of world influences---with a lot of success.

I guess it's okay to be a Coldplay fan again.

Josh's review: (4/5)


My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges

Lead singer Jim James sounds like he's straight out of 1970. That's probably a big reason why he was cast in the Bob Dylan-inspired I'm Not There film last year (singing an extraordinary version of Dylan's "Going to Acapulco" with Arizona band Calexico, by the way). That aside, James' voice has a country-tinged falsetto that would have fit on any of The Band's old school records just fine. On Urges, Morning Jacket's fifth studio album, the group appears to have found a funky and interesting mix of background noises---loud simultaneous three guitar assaults, pleasantly-plucked mandolins and, even on a couple of cuts, thumping techno beats. "Evil Urges" and "I'm Amazed" are the two most rocking cuts, but instead of trying to imitate their Zeppelinesque inspirations, the group stakes new ground.

An impressive step forward from a rising band.

Josh's review: (4/5)

-JAB

June in Baseball: Pedro's Back, Hamilton's Reclamation

-Huge start by Pedro Martinez for the Mets last night. The 36-year-old righthander returned from the DL with a strong performance (6 IP, 3 ER, 109 pitches) against the Giants, and in so doing picked up career win number 210---against just 93 losses. Pedro's fastball tops out around 90 mph these days, about 8 mph less than he threw in his prime, but the guy's versatile arsenal is enough to make up the difference. Curveball, change-up, slider: he's still got the location to throw them all for strikes. If Pedro can keep it up, he's the ideal #2 starter that GM Omar Minaya envisioned when he acquired Johana Santana from Minnesota as the team's ace in the offseason. The only chance New York has to climb right back into the NL playoff race is a healthy Johan-Pedro 1-2 punch.

-Texas Rangers' OF Josh Hamilton is as inspiring a story as there is in the world of sports these days . . . The 26-year-old Hamilton was the #1 overall pick by Tampa Bay in 1999's MLB Draft, then got seriously sidetracked by injuries and drug addictions along the way. Things were looking awfully bleak for Hamilton when he was strung out on crack-cocaine four years ago, but not so much these days. Through the help of devoted friends, a loving family and a strong refound faith in God, Hamilton got his life back on track. Last year, he finally debuted in the Bigs with Cincinnati and had a respectable .292 batting average and 19 HRs in just 90 games (wrist injuries limited him). This year, after a trade with Texas, Hamilton is hands-down the best hitter in his sport. Currently, he leads the American League in all three triple crown categories (.333 average, 17 HRs, 63 RBI) and is the first player ever to win AL Player of the Month in both April and May.

It's a remarkable comeback story that proves once again how people are indeed capable of overcoming serious addiction problems with the proper support---if they truly want to change themselves, that is. Keep it up, Josh.

-JAB

Late May Randoms: NCAA Baseball, Indiana Jones & More

-Arkansas's college baseball team can't possibly make the 2008 NCAA Baseball Tournament now, right? Already on the bubble, the Hogs missed out on the SEC Tournament by losing 2 of 3 games to last-place Mississippi State in the season's final weekend. The Razorbacks' year-end league record was 14-15---straight yuck in a conference that's clearly down this year. I just hope Razorback fans don't overract and start blaming skipper Dave Van Horn or any of his coaches. Injuries were a major problem all year long, but frankly, this year's team just wasn't very good. No doubt they'll be back with a vengeance next year.

-Last Crusade was the best of the first three Indiana Jones movies, if only because of Sean Connery's top-notch performance as Indy's dad. But after going back and watching all three Indy flicks again, it's clear that Raiders of the Lost Ark and Temple of Doom were influential adventure movies as well . . . The special effects in those films come across as dated now, but the influence is obvious. 19 years later and we've got Indy 4: Crystal Skull. I'll check out a matinee showing this holiday weekend and I'll let you know what I think on Monday morning's show.

-The NBA Playoffs are rolling toward the Finals, and it's bound to be an exciting matchup, regardless of who gets there. Out West, it seems like Los Angeles is the best team in the conference, but the Spurs have won 4 of the last 9 league titles because of their resiliency. Down 2-0 to New Orleans, it looked like San Antonio was done, but Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli upped their games and rallied to win that series in seven. Taking on Kobe Bryant and the Lake Show is a different challenge entirely, but I still think the Spurs are up to the task. However, they've got to find a better way to bottle up Kobe Bryant when he ups his energy level. I realize Kobe's the best player in the world today, but that doesn't mean you can't knock him on his behind every time he drives the lane. The only way to beat Kobe is to rattle him physically; he's too mentally tough.

Back in the East, the Celtics and Pistons are relying on defense to decide their matchup. Both teams have star players, but neither club is as offensively potent as some people make them out to be. The bottom line is that Ray Allen needs to get hot and stay hot if Boston is going to outgrudge Detroit in an all-out grudge match. And winning a road game might help there too. Speaking of which, how clutch is Chauncey Billups? The guy pulled his hamstring early in last night's Game 2, a highly debilitating injury, but still gutted it out and finished the game. Chauncey's final line: nothing short of a highly respectable 19 points on 5 of 10 shooting from the floor with 7 assists and no turnovers. If there's a star player on the Pistons, it's definitely Billups. He's probably the best overlooked player in the league.

-What's wrong my Mets? I wish I had the answers right now, but probably not as badly as manager Willie Randolph wants them. Starting pitcher Johan Santana was supposed to be a sure thing ace, but even he has struggled to meet his average career numbers. You could say Pedro Martinez's leg injury in the first week of April has really revealed New York's glaring lack of quality starting pitching depth, but I feel like the Mazins' problems go a lot deeper than that . . . Supposed superstar shortstop Jose Reyes has been in a terrible offensive funk ever since the middle of last year (nobody seems to know why), and his lack of production in the leadoff slot has had a trickle down effect on the rest of the lineup. All-Star 3B David Wright is swinging a decent bat so far this year, but outside of Ryan Church's surprising start (9 HRs already), the lineup doesn't have a lot of pop. Carloses Beltran and Delgado are performing well below what Mets fans have grown accustomed to (maybe Delgado's just past his prime, but Beltran shouldn't be), and Moises Alou just qualified for Social Security. Throw in skipper Randolph's recent struggles in dealing with the fierce New York media and karma just doesn't appear to be on New York's side this year. I hope I'm wrong.

-JAB

Watch Out Now: Marlins Have MLB's Best Record

The Marlins are ridiculous. A combined payroll of $22 million and there they are, at 9 games over .500, sitting in first place in the NL East with the best record in baseball . . . In mid-May no less! Straight wow factor right there. It's surprising they're scoring runs, let alone winning baseball games. But that's Florida for you: every year the management tears it all down, and just about every year the Marlins overachieve and hang in the race far longer than anyone expects. It feels like it's right out of Major League or something.

If only Marlins' fans would just wake up to this team already . . . Attendance has never been good for baseball in South Florida, but this is the kind of scrappy, exciting team that could maybe change that.

Skipper Fredi Gonzalez is managing out of his mind right now, getting a talented young core to buy into the concepts of selflessness and teamwork. Go around the infield right now. Can you name a single Marlin? Well, everyone should know SS Hanley Ramirez. A rare mix of speed and power, he's as talented as anyone playing the game today. (It looks like Florida is actually serious about keeping him too.) 2B Dan Uggla is off to a career-best start with 11 HRs already on the season, while 1B Mike Jacobs has smacked 11 of his own.

Sprinkle in a no-name pitching staff---Scott Olsen and Mark Hendrickson, to name a couple---and it's nothing short of mind-blowing to see this team contending as it is right now.

If it all boils down to the bottom line, here's how I see it: Florida's payroll comes in at $22 million when you throw the whole team into the mix. And that's just 1/10 of the combined salaries for the New York Yankees, who clock in at just under $230 million.

-JAB

The 75 Biggest Pariahs in Sports

From today's "Morning Rush" show . . . fifty callers (exactly) weighed in with their votes; the ones below are the candidates I consider reasonable. Remember again the definition of the word 'pariah.'

"pariah": an outcast, a malcontent, one who's been shunned or shown scorn by others, a negative term

With that in mind, in the context of the modern sports world, here are my rankings:

1) O.J. Simpson
2) Mike Tyson
3) Pete Rose
4) Michael Vick
5) Jose Canseco
6) Barry Bonds
7) Roger Clemens
8) Pac-Man Jones
9) Marion Jones
10) Ron Artest
11) Rafael Palmeiro
12) Mark McGwire
13) Dennis Rodman
14) Ricky Williams
15) John Daly
16) Rae Carruth
17) Buddy Ryan
18) Woody Hayes
19) Tim Montgomery
20) Ray Lewis
21) Billy Martin
22) Denny McElwain
23) Don King
24) Ryan Leaf
25) Ty Cobb
26) Shoeless Joe Jackson
27) John McEnroe
28) Todd Bertuzzi
29) Marty McSorley
30) Diego Maradona
31) Terrell Owens
32) Allen Iverson
33) Randy Moss
34) Bobby Knight
35) Brian McNamee
36) Victor Conte
37) Marv Albert
38) Tony Stewart
39) George Steinbrenner
40) Mark Cuban
41) Al Davis
42) Steve Howe
43) Danny Heatley
44) Isiah Thomas
45) Stephon Marbury
46) J.R. Rider
47) Rasheed Wallace
48) Tonya Harding
49) Floyd Landis
50) Kobe Bryant
51) Bill Buckner
52) Scott Norwood
53) Ben Johnson
54) John Rocker
55) Mitch Williams
56) Art Schlicter
57) Kermit Washington
58) Greg Norman
59) Tim Hardaway
60) Latrell Sprewell
61) Tim Donaghy
62) Nolan Richardson
63) Daniel Snyder
64) Lawrence Phillips
65) Bill Romanowski
66) Roberto Alomar
67) Steve Bartman
68) Daryl Strawberry
69) Dwight Gooden
70) Maurice Clarett
71) Howard Cosell
72) Roy Tarpley
73) Jason Giambi
74) Bill Laimbeer
75) Nate Newton

_______________________________

-JAB

Music Reviews: The Roots Drop Thinking Man's Rising Down

The Roots' new album Rising Down is really strong. It's the tenth studio release from Philly's hip-hop band and their best since 2002's masterpiece Phrenology. Fifteen years deep, and MC Black Thought still deliver rhymes that rattle---and make you think. Co-group founder Questlove (the drummer, in case you didn't know) is steady and rhythmic as always, and there are plenty of guests who check in over the course of the disc. In direct response to critics who say the group has wandered from its musical center of gravity of late, Down is a more focused effort to say the least.

Take out the intros, outros and inbetweens; the album has ten real tracks to it, and that's enough. Rapper Mos Def kicks it off with a riff on the struggle of today's youth on title track "Rising Down." Over a howling funk beat, The Roots slice up everything from economics to global warming on the cut, setting the tone for the rest of the album. (Yes, rhyming about the earth's environmental issues can be cool too.) It is interesting to note that a non-group member has first say on the album; Def is just that good:

"Tonight at noon watch a bad moon rising
Identities in crisis and conflict diamonds
Blindin', staring at lights till they crying
Bone gristle poppin' from continuous grindin."

Lead single "Get Busy" follows. The video is hilarious, with the group hanging out in an office as they get down to "business." A party track, it lifts the mood a bit before Black Thought ups the ante with freestyle "75 Bars." While not quite up to the stream-of-consciousness riffs like "Thought at Work" off of Phrenology or "Boom!" off of Tipping Point, the message is Black Thought's gift for gab and flow is second to few rappers working today:

"My hustle is long, my muscle is strong
My man put the paper in the duffle I'm gone
Y'all still a light year from the level I'm on
Just a pawn stepping right into the head of the storm."

The next song, "Criminal" is probably my favorite track off the album so far. Falling halfway through the disc, it features a guest spot from up-and-coming rapper Saigon (of Entourage renown) over a guitar sample that would suit a Jack Johnson album just fine---that's how mellow it is. The subject matter is complex: young rappers from the "hood" trying to get along with rich suits from the "burbs" just to keep the music (and the money) spinning round and round.

Rappers Common and Talib Kweli make guest appearances on the second half of the album, while former group member Malik B. shows up on tracks "I Can't Help It" and "Lost Desire" (with Kweli). His opening lyrical riff on "Can't Help It" is so hard-hitting it sounds like it could've been ripped straight from an Illadelph Halflife B-Side. R&B singer Chrissette Michael lends her vocal cords to album closer "Rising Up", chastising today's radio stations for their repetitious playlists.

Civil unrest, the struggling economy, a misguided war in Iraq, global warming, distrust of the government and the collapsing music industry are just several of the many major themes tackled on the album. The Roots have never been an easy band to digest on record (in concert, it's a different story) and that song remains the same here.

Frequently unsettling, usually provocative, with a diverse sonic pallette as the backbone holding it all together, Rising Down shows the The Roots back in command of their abilities in a rare hip-hop career that's now ten albums deep.

Josh's Rising Down Grade: **** of five (4 stars out of 5)

-JAB

Bobby Petrino Reflects on Spring Prax

Last night Razorback football coach Bobby Petrino held court at the Fort Smith Razorback Club's April get-together. The event was held at the Oaks in front of a packed house of football diehards. Optimistic, engaging, informative---label Petrino's speech with whatever adjective label you want; the clear message is that Razorback football is once again infused with a sense of excitement that's been missing for quite some time.

Below are some of the comments from Coach Petrino that caught my ear:

On QB Casey Dick: "It's been a very productive spring for him, but we won't know just how good Casey's going to be in this offense until I see him get hit under the chin in a game. That's when I'll know just how much better he is."

On WR London Crawford: "He was our most consistent wideout all through April . . . I really feel like London's come a long way, but for him, catching the football is very unnatural. Which means, he's fighting the mechanics with his hands every time. He's still a work-in-progress."

On TE D.J. Williams: "As good a spring as anybody. A major weapon for us over the middle of the field. He's blessed with rare talent for a receiver, so now it's my job to make sure we get him the ball as much as possible. Feeding the studs, I like to call it."

On RB Michael Smith: "He's got a different style of running than most of the backs I've been around, but that's okay. He's smaller and shiftier, but has the ability to break a big play every time he touches the ball. He's really quick, so we've just got to try and get it in his hands, whether it's via the toss or the screen pass."

On C Jonathan Luigs: "Far and away the best center in the country. We're lucky to have him and we need him to be an offensive leader. Probably the best player at any position on the team."

On the defense as a whole: "We're still trying to figure out some roles as far as who's going to be on the field in certain situations, but I feel like there's a lot of talent there for us too. Our front four should be a strength, particularly once we get (DT) Ernest Mitchell back into the fold. The linebackers are a bit thin, in terms of depth, but I feel like it can become a strength over time. And the secondary is a question mark. Not having (CB) Jerrell Norton out there this spring really hurt us." (Norton missed almost all of Spring practice with an ankle injury.)

On expanding recruiting: "It's my goal to make the University of Arkansas a top destination for the best recruits in the country . . . I really feel like once a kid takes a step on the campus, once we get him to Fayetteville and he drives down Razorback Road with us and sees what we've got to offer---I feel like getting him to sign here will be the easiest part."

On why he became a coach: "My dad was a coach, so I grew up around the game. It was there around me at all times and I just tried to soak up as much knowledge as I could about every position on the field."

On throwing the ball more: "Obviously it's going to be on our players to throw it and catch it, first and foremost, but we're going to attack down the field whenever we can."

On SEC Fans: "Intense. Passionate. You can feel how much they care just by talking to them."

-JAB

Call It Tradition: Josh's 2008 NFL Draft Review, Part 2 of 2

Picking up right were we left off yesterday, mid-first round . . .

With Tatum Bell its only capable proven back, Detroit spits the bit on running backs, much like its predecessors, goes for OT Gosder Cherilus outta BC. Strange. But not as peculiar as Baltimore, who traded up and down before settling in at eighteen and selecting Delaware (they have football?) QB Joe Flacco. Big arm who's a work-in-progress. Carolina added to its haul with Pitt lineman Jeff Otah before Tampa Bay got a nice piece with Kansas CB Aqib Talib at twenty. Atlanta follows the big guy trend with its second round pick, USC tackle Sam Baker.

Dallas goes for Arkansas RB Felix Jones at twenty-two, then trades up to twenty-five to get South Florida CB Mike Jenkins. With the Pac-Man trade on top of it, Dallas has turned its secondary into a position of depth where a week ago it was weak. Honestly, a fantastic weekend performance by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who also got Texas A & M TE Martellus Bennett and Georgia Tech tailback Tashard Choice on day two.

Back to Felix Jones for a second. You can easily manufacture the argument that he is in a better position to have a successful rookie year than his former Hog teammate Darren McFadden. With the Raiders, D-Mac's numbers will probably be muted a bit for at least a year or two, based on the team's feeble surrounding roster of talent alone. On the flip, Jones steps right back into a change-of-pace role with Dallas that suited him perfectly at Arkansas. With bowling ball Marion Barber pounding it between the tackles, watch Felix swing it to the outside as much as he can next year, breaking it for a a couple of big plays every week.

Pittsburgh lucked into Illinois horse Rashard Mendenhall #23, and got huge WR Limas Sweed from Texas in the second, making Big Ben happy. I thought Tennessee reached for East Carolina halfback Chris Johnson next; just because somebody runs a ridiculous 40 yard dash (Johnson ran a 4.24) doesn't make them an NFL star. Give me the proven SEC commodity over the small school speedster any day of the week.

Three West Coast teams followed. Houston got offensive lineman Duane Brown in a dull move, while San Diego picked up CB Antoine Cason. Seattle drafted USC edge rusher Lawrence Jackson and San Francisco took NC State DT Kentwan Balmer. Cool name, but I don't know if he can play as a starting nose in the NFL....

The Jets traded up at thirty and added Purdue TE Dustin Keller in the move mentioned above, then took small school CB Derrick Lowery in the 4th round, Tennessee QB Erik Ainge in the fith (I wanted Kentucky QB Andre Woodson there, but oh well), Kansas WR Marcus Henry in the sixth and Arkansas OT Nate Garner in the seventh. Throw in #6 overall Vernon Gholston, and all in all, Gang Green did pretty okay for themselves, even without D-Mac. I mean, defensively, the front seven has been entirely rebuilt, and should be significantly better next year, but you still have to question the offense. Even with all the moves up front, Leon Washington is still the only home run hitter on the team. And they've still gotta figure out who the starting quarterback is . . . Kellen Clemens? Chad Pennington? Someone else?

8-8 in 2008 sounds about right for the Jets.

The Super Bowl Champion New York Giants close the first round with Miami S Kenny Phillips. A need move, but solid nonetheless.

And oh yeah, in case you were wondering, that Giants fan friend of mine is cockier than ever these days . . . Thanks a lot, Eli.

-JAB

Call It Tradition: Josh's 2008 NFL Draft Review, Part 1 of 2

Talking to a friend of mine who's a diehard New York Giants fan today, and Eli Manning's name came up, as it usual does. The matter in question was Manning's Super Bowl title run this past January, and whether or not it now defined him as a player. Amazing to think that only days before Eli's Magical Postseason Run began, on my annual voyage home for the holidays, the New York City sport talk radio airwaves were alive with the conversation of a perceived big name quarterback bust. What was his name again? Oh yeah: Eli Manning.

The point of it all is that becoming a superstar athlete, particularly in the NFL, is contingent on any number of different variables. Among these are some primary concerns---staying healthy, the quality of the team they inherit, the abilities of the coaching staff to maximize its assets---but there are secondary concerns as well, such as the individual's bottom line mental confidence and, maybe first and foremost, luck.

Not everyone has expectations as high as those of Eli Manning. But this past weekend's NFL Draft certainly gave a few new names their fair share of pressure weight-wise. Miami took Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long #1 overall, then handed him a $30 million check before he's even played a game. St. Louis didn't mess up, snaring Virginia DE Chris Long in the second slot. Hard to go wrong with a pedigree like that. Atlanta felt the temptation of a new franchise quarterback irresistibile with the three pick, grabbing BC QB Matt Ryan. Jury still way out there.

Then there's D-Mac. The man who delighted University of Arkansas fans to no end over the last three years finally got his professional assignment, and darned if it ain't the Silver & Black. Al Davis' Oakland Raiders haven't won a Super Bowl in 25 years, but maintain a fan base as devoted as any. But is Davis still in command of all of his senses? One has to ask the question after watching Mr. Just-Win-Baby take Darren McFadden fourth overall. Hmmm, let's see: Justin Fargas, Lamont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes and Michael Bush . . . Throw in D-Mac and that's five tailbacks making an awful lot of cash money. D-Mac will obviously be allowed to emerge as one of the two main guys come fall camp, but let's be honest about it. There were better fits for him at other destinations.

Kansas City had one of the best drafts of anybody (surprising, right?), lucking into LSU DT Glen Dorsey at five, choosing Virginia G Branden Albert at fifteen, then picking up Virginia Tech cover man Brandon Flowers in round two and Texas speedster RB Jamaal Charles in the third. That's four brand new starters right there. In my opinion, Herm Edwards' crew had the best draft of anybody.

My beloved Gang Green were banking on D-Mac falling to them at six, a dicey proposition at best. (Again, why did we try to beat Kansas City in overtime in that meaningless season finale on New Year's Eve? All it did was cost us McFadden.) Once that didn't work out, the brain trust of Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini went with the only guy they could justify: Ohio State pass-rushing hybrid Vernon Gholston. Even if he isn't a superstar, Gholston will only help bolster a Jets pass rush that has been almost completely overhauled from a year ago. And thank goodness for that. (One other note: The Jets would trade back into the first round at thirty to take Purdue TE Dustin Keller, an interesting move that New York hopes will better open up the middle of the field for the offense.)

The Saints came across as a little desperate when they traded up to seven to get USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. Jacksonville a little bit of the same going up to eight to get Florida DE Derrick Harvey. The Bengals go need pick with Trojan LB Keith Rivers at nine and New England reaches for Tennessee LB Jerod Mayo at ten (they could've had him at twenty-five).

I liked Buffalo's weekend with Troy DB Leodis McKelvin at eleven and Indiana WR James Hardy (all 6'7 of him) in the second round. Denver beefed up with Boise State lineman Ryan Clady in the twelve slot, and Carolina jumped the gun a bit for Oregon tailback Jonathan Stewart at thirteen. Linemen go back-to-back for Chicago and Kansas City at fourteen and fifteen with Vanderbilt OT Chris Williams and the aforementioned Virgina G Branden Albert. Arizona took Antonio's cousin, small school CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the sixteenth slot.

-JAB

April's Noteworthy Items

NFL Draft Nuggets

-Will Darren McFadden become a New York Jet? Maybe. At #6, New York has the right position to sit and wait while one or two studs fall right into its lap. If D-Mac is still there at six, Gang Green will probably take plenty of phone calls and trade offers before making its pick, but it'll be hard to justify not taking McFadden considering his home-run potential. The Jets offense was terribly anemic last year.

-Arkansas' other stud tailback---Felix Jones---will be drafted #22 overall by the Dallas Cowboys. You can write it down right now.

-Miami has so many holes to fill, why don't the Dolphins just slip and slide down the draft board next weekend? Which is to say, if they want Glen Dorsey, but can get him at #4, why pay him $25 million guaranteed at #1? I think Bill Parcells is the one guy who might actually consider doing this, considering that he really doesn't care what the fans think of him.

NBA Post-Season Arrives

-I like Boston out the East after a seven game war with Detroit. San Antonio as the Western Champ following a battle with the Lakers. Spurs over Celtics in six games for the NBA Championship.

-If Carmelo Anthony had made a better decision the other night (he was busted for DUI), I might find a way to justify picking Denver over L.A. as a first round upset special. But it's hard to believe in Melo's crew of talented misfits right now, especially against such a balanced Lakers squad.

-Kobe Bryant is the 2008 NBA MVP. Period and end of story. Maybe next year, Mr. Paul.

NHL Playoffs

-It's great to have a playoff hockey team to root for again. Last year was such a bad one for the Philadelphia Flyers that I literally tuned the sport out at the end of November. Now, Philly's back as the six seed in the East, and I'm loving every minute of the Flyers/Capitals first round playoff series in HD. It's just awesome. Tonight, the Flyers should keep Washington stud Alexander Ovechkin in check and take a commanding three games to one lead . . . In HD, baby.

MLB Rolls Through April

-Yeah, can I just have that Tigers-to-win-the-World-Series pick back right now?

-JAB

Arkansas Begins Spring Football Practice: Josh's Ten Most Noteworthy Items

I was at Arkansas' spring football practice on both Saturday and Sunday at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. Here are some initial thoughts:


#1: Ryan Mallett is a physical beast. At almost 6'7, 260 pounds, he's a man among men, even here at the SEC level. His right arm is clearly cannon-like, and his accuracy looked better than I expected it would. Bobby Petrino sure would love having this guy eligible right away. Don't count on the NCAA letting that one happen though.

#2: All the quarterbacks looked pretty good. Remember, only four QBs are practicing right now, with Tyler Wilson and Jim Youngblood (still in high school) yet to join the team. But the four guys in place right now---Ryan Mallet, Casey & Nathan Dick, Alex Mortenson---have each looked impressive so far. Mallet has the biggest arm, Casey's the most experienced, Nathan just might be the most accurate, while Alex has the best head on his shoulders. Bobby Petrino is making progress with all these guys by the day.

#3: Maybe Arkansas won't be so awful at tailback. Michael Smith and Brandon Barnett didn't make anyone forget Darren McFadden and Felix Jones this weekend (and no one ever will), but they didn't look half-bad either. Smith is small, but he's quick and slinky too, showing a good ability to bounce his runs to the outside . . . Barnett, meanwhile, is a bowling ball, with a strong lower body that bears some comparison to Jacksonville Jaguars' RB Maurice Jones-Drew. With those two backs in place, and stud freshman DeAnthony Curtis (Camden Fairview) waiting in the wings, running back should prove to be one of Arkansas's smallest concerns this year.

#4: The returning wide receivers are on the hot seat---and they know it. Guys like London Crawford, Marques Wade, Rod Coleman and Carlton Salters all have lots of work to do if they want to get playing time next year. Experienced (to a degree) returnees Lucas Miller, Reggie Fish and Crosby Tuck have some work to do as well. With so many talented recruits coming in at the position (Joe Adams anyone?), there is no more time for this group to waste. Showing much steadier hands, Crawford has impressed me the most with his progress so far.

#5: With All-America center Jonathan Luigs back, alongside experienced guys in Mitch Petrus, Ray Dominguez, DeMarcus Love and Jose Valdez, there's no doubt the offensive line will be effective this year. And that's not including any of last year's redshirts or this year's linemen recruits.

#6: Defense is a big concern. Let me emphasize the adjective "big" again, as the whole group is basically starting over. Jerrell Norton, Jamar Love and Rashad Johnson return most of the experience in the secondary. Honestly, the cover guys worry me more than any unit on the team right now. I wonder whether or not the speed is there to keep pace with the more explosive teams---LSU, Florida, Georgia---in the conference.

#7: Freddie Fairchild's absence is probably a blessing in disguise. Even without the most athletic linebacker on the team, Petrino's middle-of-the-field corps has appeared surprisingly effective so far. Guys like Ryan Powers and Jerry Franklin are making significant progress.

#8: The defensive front four will be better than you think. With talented tackles returning in Ernest Mitchell and Malcolm Sheppard, the Hogs should be good up the gut. But will Antowain Robinson ever refind his pass rushing swagger? And how effective can converted TE to DE Jake Bequette be? Only time will tell.

#9: There's a sense of urgency and an overall energy at spring practice that wasn't there the last couple of seasons. Nothing against Houston Nutt and his way of doing things, but Bobby Petrino's style is way more fun to watch. Constantly moving his players and coaches around, it's no wonder Petrino has developed a reputation for being a bit of a showman at times. Good for him.

#10: No easier job than being a kicker or punter, huh? Alex Tejada and Jeremy Davis hung out alone at the Walker Pavilion this weekend while the rest of the team was sprinting and hustling all over the place inside Razorback Stadium. Nice life if you can get it.


-JAB

Josh's 2008 MLB Predictions, Part 2

NATIONAL LEAGUE

NL EAST

1- New York Mets (y)
2- Atlanta Braves (x)
3- Philadelphia Phillies
4- Washington Nationals
5- Florida Marlins

NL CENTRAL

1- Milwaukee Brewers (y)
2- Chicago Cubs
3- Houston Astros
4- Cincinnati Reds
5- Saint Louis Cardinals
6- Pittsburgh Pirates

NL WEST

1- Colorado Rockies (y)
2- San Diego Padres
3- Los Angeles Dodgers
4- Arizona Diamondbacks
5- San Francisco Giants

y= division champ
x= wild card
----------------------
Award Projections

MVP: Mark Teixeira, Atlanta
Cy Young: Johan Santana, New York
Rookie: Geovany Soto, Chicago
Manager: Bobby Cox, Atlanta

Playoffs: New York over Colorado, 3-1; Milwaukee over Atl., 3-2
NLCS: New York Mets over Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3
World Series: Detroit Tigers over New York Mets

-JAB

Josh's 2008 MLB Predictions, Part 1

AMERICAN LEAGUE

AL EAST

1- New York Yankees (y)
2- Boston Red Sox (x)
3- Tampa Bay Devil Rays
4- Toronto Blue Jays
5- Baltimore Orioles

AL CENTRAL

1- Detroit Tigers (y)
2- Cleveland Indians
3- Minnesota Twins
4- Chicago White Sox
5- Kansas City Royals

AL WEST

1- Los Angeles Angels (y)
2- Seattle Mariners
3- Oakland Athletics
4- Texas Rangers

y= division champ
x= wild card

-----------------------
Award Projections

MVP: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit
Cy Young: C.C. Sabathia, Cleveland
Rookie: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay
Manager: Joe Girardi, New York

Playoffs: Detroit over Boston, 3-1; New York over Los Angeles, 3-2
ALCS: Detroit Tigers over New York Yankees, 4-1

-JAB

Counting Crows Return Strong With New Disc Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings

Don't listen to the critics. Most musicians will tell you it's the biggest rule they live by, and Counting Crows' frontman Adam Duritz is no exception to it. Ever since the Crows hit the public consciousness in 1993 with breakout single "Mr. Jones" and the highest-selling rock debut album ever in August and Everything After, the dreadlocked singer/songwriter has gone about things his own way, from dating a steady stream of celebs (Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Mary-Louise Parker, Nicole Kidman, to name a few) to his physical appearance (honestly, how many 38-year-old white boys do you know with nappy dreads? . . . Exactly.) Now, after an almost six year hiatus, Duritz and his Crows are back on the map with their fifth studio album proper, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings.

It's always been easy comparing Counting Crows to their influences: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, the Grateful Dead, the Beach Boys, the Beatles . . . All good places to go for inspiration, and yet the synthesized blend of those sounds is what makes the Crows entirely unique. Which is to say, they sound like themsleves. Here, over the course of fourteen songs, Duritz runs the gamut from love, lust and self-indulgence to remorse, regret and heartache. The new Crows' release is an interesting concept in that it's really two albums squished into one: the six songs on Saturday Nights are produced by Gil Norton (the same producer behind the band's hardest rocking album to date, 1996's sophomore effort Recovering the Satellites) while the tracks on Sunday Mornings are produced by long-time Modest Mouse man Brian Deck.

Most reviewers of the album will call Saturdays the "rock 'n roll half" and Sundays the "country side." It's not entirely that simple, especially given rocker "Come Around" at the end of side two, but the general description does give a pretty good idea of the tempo of the songs on each half-album. What's clear as well is that the Counting Crows have grown in size and sound: the band now has seven full-fledged members, all who are versatile enough musically that you can hear any of dozens of instruments being played on every track.

It starts off with "1492", an up-tempo jammer about reveling in the excess of celebrity, with apropos Christopher Columbus references to boot. "I'm Russian-Jew American/ Impersonating African-Jamaican" Duritz shouts autobiographically in the album's opening couplet. The song was originally intended for 2002's Hard Candy, but the band couldn't agree on a definitive version. Here it sounds complete. What the tune is about, as a whole, I'm not entirely sure, but it's nonetheless sonically powerful with a loud rollicking guitar solo front and center stage two minutes in.

The urgency continues with "Hanging Tree." Another pretty melody riding high on guitars, it has Duritz singing "This dizzy life of mine/Keeps hanging me up all the time/This dizzy life of mine is just a hanging tree." Seriously dark subject matter for a nice piece of pop. "Los Angeles" continues the pop life with Duritz getting a little too comfortable writing about his celebrity dating lifestyle. Co-written by Ryan Adams, it's the slowest of the six songs on the first half of the album. Along with "Insignificant", it's nice enough to listen to, but looms as one of the album's overall lightweights.

But all is far from lost. "Sundays" is another quality rocker that has been sitting in the Crows' unreleased vault for a long time. Ten years to be exact; it was first recorded for 1999's This Desert Life, but didn't make a disc till now. It's Duritz at his most nihilistic, singing "I don't believe in Sundays/I don't believe in anything at all." Fuzzy guitar dominates sex-driven lyrics.

Then there's "Cowboys." As the closer for Saturday Mornings, it goes for the heart, sounding downright uncomfortable at times. Duritz paints the picture of a world where no one is safe from anything, including themselves. Cowboys, thieves, presidents and nobodies make their way in and out of focus, some more damaged than others. It does an impressive job of wrapping the half-album's themes in a closing statement and makes for a single transfixing five minute plus cut. Talented lead guitarist Dan Vickrey is splashed all over again, not allowed to hit a crescendo until the burner's closing moments.

"Washington Square" opens Sunday Mornings in a contemplative mood. The lyrics make for a beautiful poem about life and Lower Manhattan, while Duritz's piano arrives soft and refreshing, rendering its absence from the first half of the album all the more apparent. (If there's a basic criticism one can make of the two albums-in-one idea the Crows are going for here, it's that by dividing the disc's pacing into two direct halves, it eliminates some of the cut-by-cut tempo anticipation after the first listen . . . Maybe I'm just nitpicking though.) Other second side highlights include the beautifully piano-laden "On Almost Any Sunday Morning", catchy lead single "You Can't Count On Me" and biting closer "Come Around."

With six years between this Counting Crows' release and the last, it's hard to know when---or if---singer/songwriter Adam Duritz will be able to come up with enough stuff for a sixth album, but that's all right. If this is their final statement, it's an altogether appropriate last chapter for a group that did things its own way, becoming one of the most popular American rock bands of the past twenty years. High quality rock music with lyrical gut punches written all over it, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is undoubtedly more hits than misses.

-JAB

Josh's Album Rating: * * * * (4 stars out of 5)

Razorbacks Routed By Heels: Seniors' Rollercoaster Ride Ends

In a lot of ways, the end of the Razorbacks' 07-08 season came just the way we thought it would: outclassed, outscored and outplayed by a team (North Carolina) with way more talent. The Hogs were ripped by the Heels 108-77 in Raleigh, NC, on Sunday, sending Arkansas home in the round of 32. But I'll make the argument that getting to the second round was---in and of itself---a step forward for the Razorback basketball program.

Amazingly enough, it had been nine years since Arkansas won so much as a single NCAA Tournament game. For a storied program like UA, that's just way too long. Of course, the demise of the Nolan Richardson era precipitated the postseason drought, but Stan Heath was unable to turn things around as coach either. In walked John Pelphrey, and with him, a whole lot of optimism about the immediate future.

Let's remember that all nine of Arkansas' main rotation players this year were recruited by Stan Heath. They had emotional ties to the man who was dismissed after last season's first round NCAA loss. And there's no doubt that Pelphrey's emphasis on discipline and conditioning---a stark contrast to Heath's easier-going approach---was a major sticking point for this crew of Hogs at the get-go this year.

But little by little, they bought in. Forward Sonny Weems elevated his game to All-SEC first team status. Center Darian Townes legitimized his NBA stock with tremendous post play. Gary Ervin, Charles Thomas, Steven Hill, Vincent Hunter---a class six deep with seniors warmed up to Pelphrey's message and ultimately played some of its best basketball together late in the year.

I refuse to let one game---even if it was a season-ending blowout loss---define what Arkansas did as a team on the hardwood this year. An 86-72 victory over Indiana in Friday night's 8/9 matchup was a significant achievement for this bunch in its own right, and something they'd never done before in the NCAA Tournament: win a game.

Were they the prettiest team to watch? Of course not. Did they maximize their abilities together? Who knows. But the bottom line is they absolutely re-established some of the dormant hoops tradition in Fayetteville. Beautiful Bud Walton Arena had become all too comfortable a place for opponents to play in recent years, and this year's Hogs turned that around by going 15-1 at home. They also finished with 23 wins, giving John Pelphrey the most ever by a first-year Arkansas coach. And they qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season, winning a game for the first time in almost a decade.

Nobody likes seeing their team get blown out, especially in the last game of a particular season, but North Carolina really is that good. Offensively, defensively, in transition---the Tar Heels are simply a significantly better club than Arkansas this year, and it showed, playing in front of (essentially) a home crowd in Raleigh. Even if the Razorbacks had played a better game throughout, there's little doubt they still would have lost the contest by double figures. If you want to offer up some criticism of the loss, a good starting place would be last Sunday's SEC Title Tilt defeat at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs. If the Hogs had won that game, they likely would have been a #7 or #6 seed and avoided a #1 until much later on. But woulda, coulda, shoulda only gets you nowhere, and there's no question consistency was the biggest problem this Arkansas group dealt with in its time together.

So 23-12 is the final mark for this group of six seniors, with some nice bright spots at the end of the year, including a thrilling 92-91 SEC Semifinal win over Tennessee and the first-round NCAA victory over Indiana. I feel the six departing players should be remembered as a group that persevered in a time of transition, helping bridge the Razorback basketball program to the John Pelphrey era. With so many players leaving, Coach 'P' has it both good and bad. Good in the sense that he can now stamp the program with his own player personnel mark, but bad in terms of how little returning experience he has for next year. Is all-time Oklahoma leading scorer Rotnei Clark the real deal? How about point guard prospect Courtney Fortson? Can Patrick Beverley put an up-and-down season aside and make significant progress as a floor leader? What about the lack of returning size?

All of those questions need to be answered, but we'll stow them away for another day. For now, we close the book on a group of seniors that didn't have the most success in winning meaningful games in March, but hung tough through a difficult coaching succession. (Need I do any more than bring up the name Dana Altman? Yuck.)

Sonny Weems, Darian Townes and Steven Hill all likely have NBA careers ahead of them. Charles Thomas, Gary Ervin and Vincent Hunter should all be able to make a nice living playing professionally overseas. But collectively, this rag-tag bunch of unorthodox players showed a lot of heart. By sticking together through heaps of drama and earning an NCAA Tourney victory for the University of Arkansas for the first time in almost a decade, it's an easy answer for me . . . Despite the roller coaster ride, this Razorback basketball season was a success.

-JAB

'08 NCAA Bracket Picks and Thoughts

EAST

Tar Heels fans sure got it good, huh? North Carolina not only got the #1 overall seed in the Tournament, they also got a path laid out straight through their home state. With two games in Raleigh and two more likely in Charlotte, Tyler Hansbrough's crew doesn't need to go far to reach San Antonio. Ty Lawson makes the offense hum at the point, while wingman Wayne Ellington has as sweet a stroke as anyone in the country. Can coach Roy Williams make it all gel? I've got doubts. What if Eric Gordon of Indiana or Derrick Low of Washington State controls the backcourt game against the Heels? What if Williams' crew pulls the old familiar and comes out tight? The #4 Cougars could be the team that does the deed. So could second-seeded Tennessee or third-ranked Louisville. The Volunteers were deserving of a one seed and have a great trio in Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith and Tyler Smith. This region's loaded.

Josh's Region Winner: Tennessee over Wash. State

Likely Best Game to Watch: #2 Tennessee and #3 Louisville

Best Chance for Big Upset: #13 Winthrop and #4 Washington State


WEST

Top seed UCLA has a golden path to the Elite Eight round. The Bruins got themselves a cozy draw atop their region and possess a balance that few teams do. With freshman center Kevin Love dominating inside, point guard Darren Collison smoothly running the show and coach Ben Howland getting a host of athletic contributors to chip in, UCLA may just have the right recipe for the perfect storm this year. Two straight trips to the Final Four should become three, that is unless Jim Calhoun's topsy turvy Huskies can pull a shocker in the Sweet Sixteen. On the bottom half of the bracket, #2 Duke could have its hands full against Bog Huggins and West Virginia in round two. Xavier PG Drew Lavender is a fun player to watch, with tremendous ball-handling ability. His third-seeded Musketeers have the depth to make a run here, if they can avoid a first round upset against red-hot Georgia, that is.

Josh's Region Winner: #1 UCLA over #3 Xavier

Likely Best Game to Watch: #4 UConn and #5 Drake

Best Chance for Big Upset: #14 Georgia and #3 Xavier


MIDWEST

Kansas earned itself a #1 seed by winning the Big 12 Tourney Championship. The Jayhawks are loaded in explosive guards with Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Russell Robinson and Sherron Collins all on the roster. But coach Bill Self needs to get consistent play from his frontcourt to finally break through to the Final Four. Second-seeded Georgetown has a nice draw for itself on the bottom half of the bracket, but the Hoyas will need a huge performance from big man Roy Hibbert to compensate for the absence of last year's stud Jeff Green. #3 Wisconsin is stout defensively, but watch out for six seed USC, a team with tremendous breakout potential. If OJ Mayo can limit his shot attempts and set up his teammates, the Trojans are a legitimate sleeper. So is the winner of an expected tight one between Clemson and Vanderbilt in round two.

Josh's Region Winner: #1 Kansas over #6 USC

Likely Best Game to Watch: # Wisconsin and #6 USC

Best Chance for Big Upset: #13 Siena and #4 Vanderbilt


SOUTH

Memphis gets top billing after suffering just one loss in the regular season. The Tigers have the best point guard in the country in freshman standout Derrick Rose and loads of talent elsewhere, including two guard Chris Douglas-Roberts and big man Joey Dorsey. Is this the year when coach John Calipari finally breaks through? I think so. Just don't make his team shoot free throws with the game on the line. Four seed Pittsburgh has the first best shot of knocking off Memphis in the Sweet Sixteen, but the Panthers aren't quick enough to keep up with them for forty minutes. #2 Texas is a chic pick, but the Horns aren't all that tough down low. Two seed Stanford is ripe for a fall, while point guard Dominic James looks ready to take Marquette into the second weekend.

Josh's Region Winner: #1 Memphis over #2 Texas

Likely Best Game to Watch: #1 Memphis and #4 Pittsburgh

Best Chance for Big Upset: #14 Cornell and #3 Xavier

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Josh's Final Four: Tennessee, Kansas, Memphis, UCLA

NCAA Championship: UCLA over Tennessee

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-JAB

Hogs Rout Tigers, Grab First Round SEC Bye

Was this what we expected out of the Razorbacks all year long?

It’s hard a question to answer, even after the team’s 77-64 rout of hapless Auburn on Saturday’s Senior Night at Bud Walton Arena. 20-10 overall, with a 9-7 mark in the league . . . worthy of an NCAA bid? Probably, but not without a little more work in the SEC Tournament this weekend. At least according to Arkansas coach John Pelphrey, who set the single-season school record for wins by a first-year coach against the Tigers.

“I don’t have a crystal ball. I don’t know right now,” Pelphrey offered up in Saturday’s post-game press conference. “Just let our play do the talking and have someone else make the decision.”

Their play did more of the talking at home against Auburn on Saturday. Senior Night got contributions from the full complement of seniors (six in all) on the roster: Vincent Hunter with a rim-rattling slam; Darian Townes a career-high 14 rebounds; Charles Thomas resurgent with ten points and feisty defense; Steven Hill active and aggressive in the lane; Gary Ervin quick on the break, dishing in transition; slumping leading scorer Sonny Weems sparking the club with a couple early jumpers.

For this much-maligned senior group, it was all hands on deck, and everyone chipped in.

“The fans have never let us down,” proclaimed Townes, just minutes after more than 18,000 Razorback fans offered up some final curtain calls for a group that has been frustratingly inconsistent for them. “I feel like now we’ve got to take this thing on the road and keep it alive for them.”

Call Atlanta the road if you like. What it really amounts to is a neutral court setting that holds the Razorback season in the balance.

“These guys have been through a lot,” said Pelphrey. “I just want them to take it a couple steps further.”

The first of those steps will be the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on Friday against the winner of Vanderbilt and Auburn. Arkansas gets a first-round bye in Atlanta as the second seed out of the Western Division. In all likelihood, a win against Vanderbilt in Friday’s quarters would lock up an at-large NCAA bid for the Hogs. A loss and---well, let’s just say Sunday evening will be highly suspenseful for the Razorbacks and their fans.

“I don’t know if we’re in (the Dance) yet or not, but the bottom line is we still feel like we have work to do,” said sophomore guard Patrick Beverley. “This team hasn’t achieved its full potential yet.”

Beverley’s red-hot shooting has sparked the Hogs again down the stretch. Over his last three games, the sophomore is average over 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 three-pointers and 3 steals per contest. When he’s on top of his offensive game, Arkansas has multiple scoring threats and can keep pace with pretty much anyone in the country. When he’s off, the Hogs have major production problems and keep be beaten by anybody.

Now if only John Pelphrey can find a way to bottle up some of that Bud Walton home-cooking and take it with his troops to Georgia this weekend.

-JAB

First "Money Player of the Week" Award

Yesterday we debuted a new weekly feature on the Morning Rush. Every week we will be selecting an Arkansas athlete---not necessarily a Razorback---who is most deserving of kudos for his or her performance(s) during the past seven days.

Our first winner is 1B/OF Aaron Murphree of the Arkansas Razorbacks' baseball team. Murphree has been hotter than fire through Arkansas' first nine games of the year, hitting .457 with 7 home runs and 20 runs batted in . . . Literally ridiculous. What's even crazier is Murphree's slugging percentage so far: it sits at 1.171! That's entering the Barry Balco stratosphere when Bonds was at his most juiced, right?

Kidding aside, Murphree's breakout beginning has contributed mightily to the young Diamond Hogs' impressive 8-1 mark out the gates this year. The 6'5, 235 pound senior from Weatherford, TX, has given skipper Dave Van Horn a major bat to build his lineup card around. If his torrid start is any kind of an indicator, the Hogs are going to suprise a lot of teams.

Congratulations to Aaron Murphree, our first "Money Player of the Week."

(We'd appreciate listener interaction on this thing as well, so if you have any candidates you'd like to pass along, please email them to me (josh@espn963.com) and they'll be taken into consideration each week as well.)

-JAB

Coming Soon to Josh's Blog:

-Razorbacks in the SEC Tourney
-The Official 2007 MLB Preview

Gimme Some Green! NFL Free Agency Underway

The NFL opened up its free agency doors on Friday and---as expected---plenty of players have been cashing in.

The two biggest ones to sign contracts so far have been QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Randy Moss. Big Ben got an 8 year/$102 million deal to stay in Pittsburgh for the long haul, with a $36 million signing bonus up front (the largest for a quarterback in NFL history). Not all that ridiculous when you consider that Roethlisberger is only 26, already has a Super Bowl ring to his credit and has made the playoffs in three of his four NFL seasons.

Meanwhile, Randy "the Freak" Moss dabbled in free agency for a weekend before re-signing with New England for 3 years and $27 million, a good deal both ways considering Moss's age (31).

Other teams getting heavy into the free agency game might surprise you. How about the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets? Surely, the Browns have made a major splash in this year's free agency period. After re-signing QB Derek Anderson to a 3 year/$20 million contract, Cleveland signed WR Dante Stallworth (Patriots), then traded second and third-round picks for defensive tackles Cory Williams (Packers) and Shaun Rogers (Lions). There's no denying that Cleveland is significantly stronger up the middle now defensively.

And we've seen the Jets go out and spend more than $60 million in guaranteed contracts for a bunch of new talent. Marquee touchdown makers they are not, but the likes of Pro Bowl guards Al Faneca and Damien Woody, along with defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and linebacker Calvin Pace, have New York feeling optimistic after a 4-12 season. Still, for all the adding, the Jets did trade 26 year-old LB Jonathan Vilma to the Saints for a conditional draft pick, a deal made necessary because of Vilma's discomfort in playing Eric Mangini's 3-4 defensive scheme. (One wonders how that deal will look in a year if Mangini struggles again and gets fired, but we'll save that conversation for another day.)

Elsewhere, San Francisco did well for itself, picking up DE Justin Smith (Bengals), WR Isaac Bruce (Rams) and RB DeShaun Foster (Panthers). Bill Parcells is making his presence felt in Miami already, acquiring G Justin Smiley (49ers), WR Ernest Wilford (Jaguars) and DT Jason Ferguson (Cowboys). Minnesota made a great move in signing WR Bernard Berrian (Bears), though the Vikings still need a quarterback to get him the ball. The Purple and Gold also signed S Madieu Williams (Bengals) to a big deal.

Jacksonville acquired WR Jerry Porter from Oakland in the hopes that he can be their number one target. The Jags also picked up wideout Troy Williamson in a deal with the Vikes, and signed QB Cleo Lemon (Dolphins) as a back-up.

As expected, the Patriots have lost some pieces. None bigger than CB Asante Samuel, who's been among the best cover men in the game the past few years. Philadelphia signed Samuel to a massive free agent contract. Other moves of note: Tennessee signed TE Alge Crumpler (Falcons), giving Vince Young at least one reliable target. The Super Bowl champion New York Giants have lost some pieces. Oakland inked S Gibril Wilson (Giants) to a big contract. The Giants also lost LB Kawika Mitchell to the Bills, but signed S Sammy Knight (Jaguars).

Atlanta gave out big money to RB Michael Turner (Chargers), then promptly released career rushing leader Warrick Dunn. After trading for LB Vilma from the Jets, New Orleans bolstered its secondary by signing CB Randall Gay (Patriots). Carolina re-obtained WR Muhsin Muhammad (Bears), hoping he can alleviate some pressure off stud playmaker Steve Smith.

As for Dallas fans, the Cowboys jumped out with the surprising acquisition of former Miami LB Zach Thomas. The 34-year-old has a history of concussion problems, but that didn't scare Dallas away. Since then, Big D has gone utterly quiet on the free agent trail. Armed with two first-round draft picks, it's hard to ignore the thought that Jerry Jones is going to be ultra-agressive when it comes to trades at the draft in April.

-JAB

1-on-1 with Razorback Guard Patrick Beverley

In a one-on-one interview, Arkansas shooting guard Patrick Beverley talks about some of the struggles he and his team have gone through this season. The Chicago native won the SEC's Freshman of the Year award in 2007, but has seen his scoring output dip in his sophomore campaign. Beverley's Razorbacks hit the final four game stretch of the regular season at 18-8 overall, with a 7-5 mark in the SEC---a legitimate question mark for an NCAA bid.
________________________________________________

Josh Bertaccini: Another tough loss for you guys against Kentucky on Saturday. What has been the problem for your team late in some of these tight games?

Patrick Beverley: It sounds like the same thing I've been saying, but we've just got to make more plays, more shots, and pick each other up more as a team. If we can find a way to raise our energy level, especially on defense, then I think we'll be fine.

JB: Closing out tight games---particularly on the road---has been a problem for this team all year long. What makes you think it's suddenly going to turn around with four games left in the season?

P-Bev: I wouldn't say we've had trouble winning games, it's just a different story playing away from home. And we've got to be tougher and better in those key moments, bottom line. The way I see it, we've used up all of our get outta jail free cards, so now we just have to win every time out.

JB: Is there a sense right now that the season is slipping away?

P-Bev: No, not really. When you look at the SEC Tournament and the NCAAs, there's still a lot of basketball left to be played. I honestly don't think we've shown how good we can be as a group yet. I mean, we have, but just for a stretch here and a half there, or one game we've got it rolling, and the next we don't. But it's almost March, and every one of us on this basketball team has to step up.

JB: Sonny Weems has emerged as the go-to offensive player for your team this year. He's averaging over 15 points per game and almost twenty per game in conference play. And yet, a lot of the time, there's been a feeling like he's a one-man band on offense. Which is to say, when he's not scoring, nobody is. As the leading scorer on last year's team, how do you react to that?

P-Bev: Sonny's a great player, we all know that, and now he's showing people why. When he's rolling, we've got to ride his hot hand, no question. But you're right, the rest of us need to make sure we're chipping in with our share as well. I don't care how good one guy is, nobody can win games by himself.

JB: Against Kentucky, you struggled from the floor (1 for 8) and finished with just four points. Sonny scored 22 of his 26 points in the second half, but nobody else finished in double figures. At a certain point, as one of the main offensive weapons on this team, don't you feel a need to step up your production and help handle the load?

P-Bev: Of course, most definitely. But if I'm not open---if the defense is overplaying and not giving me a good look---I'm not going to shoot it. Point blank. There's no sense in me throwing up bad shots just to do it. If it's not in the flow of the offense, if it's not a good look, I'm not going to take it.

JB: Has it been hard adjusting to John Pelphrey's offense this year?

P-Bev: There's an adjustment period with anything new, but I think we're way past that now. Last year, I had a lot more freedom to create my own shot, but that didn't mean our system was good for everybody. I feel like Coach Pelphrey has done a good job of getting us all to understand what he wants us to do and why it's better for everyone in the long run. We play more as a team on offense now and I think that's a good thing.

JB: Your rebounding numbers (seven per game) are way up this year, but your scoring (twelve per game) is down from a year ago. How do you explain that?

P-Bev: Pretty strange, ain't it? I mean, I've never looked at myself as just a one-dimensional player. Basketball isn't just about scoring and how high your number is. It's not like, "Oh, well I got my twenty points, so I can just forget about everything else." That's some selfish trip, and that's not how I play. I've always taken pride in my defense first, no question. But as far as the change in my numbers or whatever, there's a lot of stuff that goes into it, I guess. Last year---I don't want to say I snuck up on people, but---I really don't feel like most of the teams we played knew what I could do offensively yet. They didn't know the best way to go about slowing me down. So I was able to score more and get easier looks. This year is totally different. Teams are coming at me with their best defensive player every game out. Double-teams, traps, I mean whatever they want to throw at me, they're doing it now. All I can do is trust that my teammates are going to take advantage of the attention that sometimes gets put on me.

JB: Talk a bit more about your work on the glass, Patrick. How does a 6'1 guard lead his team in rebounding in the SEC?

P-Bev: I don't know, I guess it's just desire. I mean, at this level, everyone's athletic, and most everyone is big, so if you try to be just more physical than people, it's not going to work. Really, a big part of it is just determination, I really believe that. Once you've laid the groundwork for yourself physically, it's just a mental game. I mean, you've got to have an idea of where you think the rebound is going to go, but then you have to get to the spot as quick as you can and be ready for contact. A big help for me has been our entire frontcourt . . . Steven Hill, Darian Townes, Charles Thomas---those guys are all seven feet or close to, and they do a great job of boxing out. That makes it way easier for a little guy like me to get in there and grab some of those loose balls.

JB: You certainly don't play like a little guy, that's for sure. Keeping it moving . . . The NBA is in the minds of most Division I basketball players. Is that the big goal for you? Let me rephrase that. Where do you see yourself in five years?

P-Bev: Wow. Five years? I guess---well, first and foremost, I plan on having my degree, so that's a goal of mine. As for the NBA, I'd be lying if I told you I didn't think about it, I mean, every basketball player has that dream at some point. But I guess it's like, "Let me enjoy college first and worry about the other things later." If I do what I have to do while I'm here, keep getting better as an individual, and we keep on improving as a team, all that professional stuff should take care of itself.

JB: There has been a lot of emotional baggage surrounding the Razorbacks' basketball program during the past year, from the run your team made to last season's SEC Tournament Final to the firing of Stan Heath, the whole Dana Altman debacle, the hiring of John Pelphrey, and all the off-the-court stuff. I don't want to get into specifics about your personal life, Patrick, but give me a thought or two on what it's been like dealing with all that.

P-Bev: With me, when something is over and done with, that's where it stays. I liked Coach Heath a lot, I mean he was like a father figure for me, not to mention he recruited me to come play here, so it was difficult seeing him go at first. But that stuff is in the past now. Coach Pelphrey is a great guy and I really do love playing for him. Since day one we've just had a sort of chemistry together, as much as a coach and player can have. Last year, after the season, it was strange watching everything that happened, no doubt, but it's in the past now and that's all I can say about it. I really believe in whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. All the stuff people say or write about me or whatever, it doesn't bother me. It really doesn't. And I feel like I'm a stronger person for having gone through all that.

JB: Your perspective on life is a lot different now than it was at the same time last year.

P-Bev: Most definitely. I'm more mature now [laughs], at least I feel like I am. But like I said, a lot of things have changed, for me and for this team. I mean, I'm a father now, and that's something I didn't have to deal with last year. But personal stuff is personal, and I'd like to keep it that way. So you just, you know, carry yourself the best you can and hope that everything works out the way it's supposed to.

JB: Despite the ups and down for this team, the crowds at Bud Walton Arena have been large and enthusiastic all season long. More so than last year. How much do you enjoy playing in front of 20,000 Razorback fans?

P-Bev: Oh, man, it's a dream come true. Who wouldn't want that many people cheering for you? Bud Walton is an awesome place to play basketball. The fans are great, they're just so into it at every game. I'm just glad I get to play here for two more years. I can't imagine playing college basketball anywhere else.

JB: All right, Patrick. Thanks again for your time. Any final thoughts as March Madness approaches?

P-Bev: I'll just keep saying what I've said all year long: the sky's the limit for this basketball team. When we play together, when we're on the same page, we can beat anybody in the country. Period. No doubt in my mind. Now it's just up to us to take what we've learned, what we've been doing every day in practice, and win these games we have left. That's the only way I can think of to prove everyone doubting us wrong.

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-JAB

Kidd Blockbuster Finalized, Western Conference Power Struggle Continues

Dallas did well for itself by getting Jason Kidd. At 35 years of age, he's not nearly the player he used to be, but 11 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds per game is still pretty close to freak nasty. Getting him from the Nets for (essentially) Devin Harris--a promising, still undeveloped point guard---along with two first round picks and $3 million is a pretty fair shake both ways. The Nets get a guy who should help them for the long term, while Dallas picks up the player who they feel can put them over the top right now. (Ironically, Kidd started his career in Dallas in the mid '90s as a #2 overall pick . . . Remember how the three J's---Kidd, Jamaal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson---were supposed to turn the then-sorry Mavericks around? R&B singer Toni Braxton dated all three of them, in turn ensuring a Dallas turnaround would not happen.)

Unfortunately for aggressive Mavs' owner Mark Cuban, I don't think this deal wins Dallas a championship. Does it make them better? Absolutely. Despite shooting a career-low 36% from the floor, Kidd will create more good opportunities for studs Nowitzki, Howard and Terry. But Dallas is still extremely soft down low. And we've seen time and again how that just doesn't work in the playoffs. You throw in the fact that the NBA's Western Conference is just ridiculously loaded this year and it's hard for me to see how the Mavs even come out of their side of the playoff bracket.

With Shaquille O'Neal and Pau Gasol also relocating in mega-trades over the last few weeks, let's take a look at the core seven players for all the Western Conference contenders. (I'm in a good old-fashioned NBA mood today, what can I say?)

Here's Dallas.

PF-Dirk Nowitzki
SF-Josh Howard
C-Erick Dampier/Juwan Howard
PG-Jason Kidd
SG-Jason Terry/Jerry Stackhouse

Not bad at all. But this is the Lake Show.

PF-Pau Gasol
SF-Lamar Odom
C-Andrew Bynum/Vladimir Radmanovic
PG-Derek Fisher /Jordan Farmar
SG-Kobe Bryant

Even better in my book. Now for Phoenix.

PF-Amare Stoudemire
SF-Grant Hill
C-Shaquille O'Neal/Boris Diaw
PG-Steve Nash
SG-Raja Bell/Leandro Barbosa

Awfully scary. Next up, San Antonio.

PF-Tim Duncan
SF-Bruce Bowen/Michael Finley
C-Kurt Thomas
PG-Tony Parker/Damon Stoudamire
SG-Manu Ginobli

The Spurs are a dynasty for a reason. And don't forget Utah.

PF-Carlos Boozer
SF-Andrei Kirilenko
C-Mehmet Okur/Paul Milsap
PG-Deron Williams
SG-Ronnie Brewer/Kyle Korver

Straight phenomenal.

Make what you want out of it, but I put Dallas at fifth out of five in that group. And that's not taking into account Denver (with 'Melo and Iverson) or New Orleans (best record in the conference with should-be MVP Chris Paul) or Golden State (the speedy team that dismantled Big 'D' in last year's first round).

After the Kidd trade, all I know for sure is that Dallas is better than Houston (T-Mac aside, way too slow) and Portland (a bit young and Oden-less). But couldn't you make that argument before the deal? Probably. In fact, throw in the four legitimate contenders in the East---Boston, Detroit, Orlando and Cleveland---and I still only put Dallas ahead of two of them.

Who knows, maybe J-Kidd finds the fountain of youth in the heart of Texas and Devin Harris never becomes anything in the swamps of Jersey. Then I'll have to eat my words. Doubt it though.

Josh's Updated NBA Power Ranking Leaders (as of 2/20/08)

1- San Antonio Spurs: The champs till proven otherwise
2- Phoenix Suns: The Diesel Experiment begins
3- Utah Jazz: Officially loaded at every position
4- L.A. Lakers: Literally stole Pau Gasol from Grizzlies
5- Boston: K-Jigga should be healthy again soon
6- Detroit: Old tried and true group hanging tough
7- Dallas: J-Kidd must limit three point attempts
8- New Orleans: Can't get any respect, Chris Paul for MVP
9- Denver: Need J.R. Smith to stay strong from downtown
10- Orlando: Dwight Howard is unknown monster no more

-JAB

Presidency '08: Obama, McCain Pull Away From Rest of Pack

Regardless of your political beliefs, you've got to admit the Democratic nomination race has been fun to watch. Hilary Clinton---the odds-on favorite going in---had all the reason to believe a tight race would tilt her way late. But here we are, on March's doorstep, and Barack Obama heads into the primaries' home stretch with what amounts to a ten-length lead. Sure, the delegates count is still tight, but there's no doubt in my mind that Obama's going to win this thing going away, and honestly, there's nothing Hilary's camp can do about it. Obama's victories in Wisconsin and Hawaii last night give the man a ten state win streak, and next week he will lock up the nomination with (hard-to-doubt-it) wins in Ohio and Texas.

It's easy to acknowledge how the former First Lady has fought this thing like a true political warrior though, taking harsh blows from the likes of Senators Edwards and Kerry with a lot of grace. But the fact of the matter is this: while Hilary possesses enough intelligence and savvy to win a Senator's seat in a state like New York, she doesn't have near the charisma it takes to pull key swing votes in a national election. Say what you want about President Dubbya, if there's one thing the man had going for him in both of his campaigns, it was personality out the wazoo. So much of it, in fact, that it overcame other significant shortcomings twice over.

And like that the title tilt for America's Presidency '08 is all but set: Barack Obama for the Dems and John McCain for the Repubs. As the first ever legitimate African-American presidential candidate, Obama goes in as the underdog, no question. Yet for all the energy, passion and intellect he displays in speech after speech, I think most of us are still curious to know what Obama really stands for. We want to know what his motivations and intentions are. I've heard plenty of talk about "change" and "hope" and a "new America", but what does that mean exactly? With so much inexperience (comparably) on his side, Barack has lots of questions left to answer.

Of course, McCain does as well. Flip-flopping isn't quite strong enough a phrase to describe the swings he's taken---from one pole to the opposite---in many of his views. But he's got the Vietnam veteran thing going for him. And he definitely comes across as a cool grandfather type, even if his speeches devolve into rambling monologues a little too often.

All you can say now is that it'll be tight. Way too tight to call as of late February. There are a high number of turns and twists and end-arounds still left to sort themselves out over the next eight months. But it sure will be fascinating watching it all unfold.

-JAB

Moment of Truth: Taylor/Pavlik II

The pugilistic pride of Little Rock puts his career on the line against Kelly Pavlik in Las Vegas tomorrow night. For Jermain Taylor, it will be more than a rematch against the man who took his middleweight belts back in September in Atlantic City. Entirely at stake for JT this time: reputation, respect and a boatload of potential future earnings.

Hustle back in your mind to late September on the Boardwalk of the Jersey shore . . . Jermain Taylor comes out aggressive after the opening bell, punch-jab-punch sequences rattling Pavlik's cage . . . Then in the second round, Taylor sends Pavlik crashing to the canvas, only to have him stagger back up to his feet, barely surviving a ten count. For whatever reason, JT just didn't have enough left in the energy tank to seal the deal right then and there. And it most definitely came to back to bite him when Pavlik rocked Taylor's jaw with a series of punches in the seventh round that left "Bad Intentions" bloodied, battered and down for the count for the first time in his career.

That fight was at 160 pounds. The rematch will be fought at 166, with no middleweight title belts at stake. The lack of "championship" billing shouldn't matter. Boxing nowadays is about the marquee names and the big paydays in a given bout, and that's it, plain and simple. Unlike the first fight, Taylor/Pavlik II will not be shown on HBO; it costs $50 on pay-per-view. And if Taylor wins the fight, there's no doubt a third contest between the two would be worth even more.

Should Jermain have fought another opponent before going right back at the man who left him dazed and confused last time out? Maybe. But the bottom line is that Taylor could have fought ten other fights before stepping back into the ring with Pavlik and there would still be no possible way to fully block out the beating he took from him last time. JT has to be smarter: he knows now that Pavlik can level him with just a couple of punches at any given moment, so he has to keep his hands up and use his jab regularly to keep his opponent at bay. Letting Pavlik fire away freely would be another recipe for disaster.

And so, the night of reckoning has come for the man from Little Rock. Jermain Taylor has both everything to gain and everything to lose in Vegas tomorrow night. Was Pavlik's upset just a flash in the pan? Was it a fluke? Or is Taylor finally on the other side of that oh-so-fine hill that separates contenders and pretenders in the world of boxing? We're about to find out.


Prediction: Pavlik wins by TKO in Round 10

-JAB