I picked a bad week for vacation. Actually, the school system picked the week by making it Spring Break, but anytime you're a Sports Director, and you're out of town for what's potentially the biggest story of the year, it's not what you'd call ideal timing.

I was at Jellystone Park with the kids, six hours away, when Steve Alford did the University of Iowa a big favor, and bolted for New Mexico. I was also sick with next to no voice, but as it turns out, Shawn Terrell had my back, not to mention our viewers'. He did a fantastic job, and even indulged all my text messages and phone calls. It's tough being in the woods.

I knew Alford was generally disliked by Iowa fans, but I had no idea how much. I've never seen anything like it. I'm surprised people didn't celebrate in the streets. Maybe they did; I was gone.
Contrary to Alford's thinly veiled cheap shots, Iowa used to be a basketball school, in the same way that Ohio State and Florida are basketball schools (football first, but basketball still followed with passion). Alford's overall lack of meaningful success and inability to make any kind of connection with the fan base slowly made Hawkeye fans apathetic. Apathy is about the worst thing that can happen to a program in these days of runaway cash needs. As we've seen since Alford left for New Mexico, the passion is still there, it had just been lying dormant.

Alford is not a bad basketball coach. He's been above average since Craig Neal arrived at Iowa. The problem is twofold: Alford said he'd take the program to another level, and then did, it just wasn't the direction anyone expected; and Alford turned off too many fans, reporters, and recruits.

Anytime I've interviewed Steve, he's been courteous and professional, if not quite warm. He's never done anything to me, and I personally know people who have worked with him and played for him who think he's a great guy. However, over the years, Alford rubbed a lot of other people the wrong way. Many think he's a "phony". I can't support that claim with evidence, but I have other observations.

He had a way of taking credit for wins, but blaming losses on his players. He loved talking about his career at Indiana, even when the question was actually about one of his players at Iowa. He never seemed to truly want to be here, probably because he didn't truly want to be here. He wanted to coach Indiana, which is understandable, and did everything he could to try and make that happen (two different times), but he didn't want to admit it. In fact, he got angry when we asked about it. After all, why would we? We're from "FREAKING IOWA".

Alford tried to turn Big Ten Tournament titles into Big Ten championships. He won one NCAA tournament game in 8 seasons (one less than Tom Davis won after he was forced out), and lost more Big Ten games than he won. Worst of all, the Pierre Pierce debacle. We all understood a coach standing by his player, what we couldn't take was Alford intimating the victim was lying. There was just no reason for that. Support your guy, but don't play judge and jury. Especially if you're wrong.

Alford had some success too. Those Big Ten Tournaments were exciting. That first win over #1 ranked UConn raised expectations to an all time high, and the Hawks almost never lost at home, even if smaller crowds watched each year. Winning forgives most sins and shortcomings, and the Hawks simply didn't win enough when it mattered.

Steve Alford is being hit hard, some would say piled on, and most of it has to do with his personality, not his record. Our own "What's Bugging Andy" is being passed from fan-to-fan all over the country (you can watch it on our video player). Most viewers on our whotv.com online poll say Andy "nailed it", but one in 15 think he was "dead wrong and way out of line". Yes, Alford has his supporters. I know because I've heard from them. Some want Andy fired, others will settle for an apology. Neither will happen. The show is called "SoundOFF". It's an opinions show, including those of the hosts. We want Andy to give his unfiltered takes. There's plenty of solid fence-sitting, just the facts television out there if that's what you're after. One viewer who demanded Andy's dismissal said opinions have no place in journalism. I asked him if he's ever heard of Edward R. Murrow or Walter Cronkite. Those guys shaped public opinion and shook American policy. I could name many others, some responsible with that power, others who misuse it.

Not to go all patriotic, but I'm sincerely thankful we live in a country where both you as a viewer, and I as a journalist, can give our opinions without dire consequences. Sure, Andy and I receive the occasional piece of hate mail, but that's a small price to pay for freedom of speech. Don't you agree?

Let's end by giving Alford credit. He did what was best for him and best for Iowa; He left. Sometimes divorce benefits all.

Oprah has done entire hours on "The Secret". It's a self-help book that changes lives. I'm going to save you 20 bucks. Here's the secret: think positive thoughts. You're welcome...

Some people are just born with the positive outlook. My friend, Jeff, just wakes up happy every day. We shared an apartment in the 80's, and I couldn't believe how he was always upbeat. Dog pooped on the stairs because we both worked a long day??? No problem. 8 hours of unpaid overtime??? Glad to do it. Friend who plays nothing but Springsteen and U2??? "Hey, that's great! Turn it up." Jeff was also one of those dead sleepers. You know, like Bill Murray in the classic, "What About Bob?" Remember when Richard Dreyfuss is jumping up and down like a WWF wrestler yelling "WAKE UP BOB!", and Bob just keeps sleeping; that is until the alarm goes off and then he pleasantly wakes up with a smile? That's Jeff...

"Andy Barker, P.I." is actually charming and funny. It stars Andy Richter---Conan's former sidekick---but I doubt you've seen it. NBC debuted it against Grey's Anatomy and the NCAA Tournament. Should have called it, "Andy Barker, Witness Protection Program"...

Rewatched "The Untouchables" last night. That's just a good guys movie. It's in the same guys class as "Tombstone". Well, maybe not Tombstone. Val Kilmer takes that movie to another level. Anyway, back to The Untouchables. Sean Connery steals the movie. "You wanna know how you do it? Here's how, they pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way, and that's how you get Capone! Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that?" If you haven't watched this lately, enjoy! And yes, ladies like it too. Ladies with great taste in movies anyway...

Saw "Music and Lyrics" at the movie theater... yeah, I'm the one. The only one. Everyone else was in "300". Wait to rent this, and then make sure you do just to see the music video parody. It's a Wham! homage with Hugh Grant in the Andrew Ridgely roll. If you're over 35, don't even act like you don't know the words to "Careless Whisper"...

Steve Alford is featured in the Christian Broadcast Network's "700 Club" this month. It's a positive story about the influence of Christ in Alford's life, but it also contains the following quote from writer Will Dawson, "Steve's career reached the next level when he accepted the coaching position here at the University of Iowa. Eight years later, he's the most successful coach in the program's history." Huh? Are you kidding me?! There is no one alive with any knowledge of college basketball who would call Alford "the most successful coach in the program's history". That's absurd. I realize the "700 Club" isn't ESPN, but who fed the reporter that misinformation?...

Barring the greatest upset in the history of college basketball, Drake will lose and lose BIG Sunday vs. Tennessee, but the Bulldogs are still in the tournament. No one can take that away. And while Drake's star players are hurt and sick, other Dogs have stepped up their games. That's going to make Drake a much better team next year; top 25 maybe...

Is there anything more annoying this time of year than the person at work who comes up and tells you game-by-game how his bracket looks? No one cares but YOU. No one. Trust me on this one. If someone seems interested, they're nice, but dishonest...

I'm off to Jellystone park with the kids on spring break. These vacations remind me how much I love being a father, because believe me, if you don't enjoy it, a week at Jellystone Park will bring you to your knees...

Scattershots: ISU women, Alford, Wild Hogs, Birthday with the Bucs, First iPod.

Good gosh, what took me so long?

How can you not love sports. So much can change so fast. It's like the ultimate reality show. With 10 ticks to go in Oklahoma City, and the Cyclones down one, Lyndsey Medders lets a pass go right through her hands. Robert Duvall as Max Mercy would draw the goat horns, but just seconds later, after two Nebraska free throws, Medders hits the dramatic, game-tying-3. ISU goes on to win in overtime, thanks in no small part to Medders' 27 points. Good stuff. ISU follows that with an upset over #1 seed Texas A&M. The Cyclones knocked down 8 consecutive threes in that game. Last time I saw an outside shooting streak like that Larry Bird was in the 3-point shooting contest asking the others players "who's going to finish second?". If you're reading this after March 10, I suspect Oklahoma has ended ISU's run, but the Cyclones are NCAA tournament bound. Bill Fennelly can flat out coach...

So can Amy Stephens. Drake played this season without its best player, Jill Martin, and then the UnderDogs lose their next to best player, Brandy Dahir, right before the tourney starts. As I punch the keys, Drake has won its first two games, including a big upset over top seed, Southern Illinois. This also points out why the Valley is moving the conference tournament to a neutral site next year. It's a big edge to host...

Is Steve Alford on the way out at Iowa? ESPN the magazine says that's the rumor. I don't buy it. I think Alford gets at least one more season, but he better deliver an NCAA tournament win. One in eight seasons doesn't cut it when Dr. Tom won two in his final season alone. The worst thing happening with Hawkeye basketball is apathy. A lot of fans just don't care much anymore. I personally think Alford is improving as a coach, but I can't defend his NCAA tourney record...

Where I went to high school, nobody cared about girls basketball. The state tournament here is, and should be, a tremendous source of pride. They do it right...

The new movie "Believe in Me" is a must for anyone who plays, played, or supports girls basketball. It's like a girls "Hoosiers". The title is forgettable, and you'll see what's coming from a country mile, but it's an old fashioned good time. It's a movie for people who say, "they don't make them like that anymore." You'll think you're back in the early 60's. B+ I would have given it an A- but I could see the three point lines. (They hid them better in Hoosiers, though not completely)...

"Wild Hogs" is not a good movie. I saw it with a group of people, including kids, who really liked it, and that laughter was infectious. However, to repeat, this is not a good movie. In fact, the best thing I can say is no animals were killed while making it. Oprah wants us to see this? It's enough to make me wonder about her endorsement of Barack Obama. C for Wild Hogs. I didn't hate it like Ken Fuson of the Des Moines Register, but maybe if I did, I could write a column as funny as he did Friday...

Your expectations for a movie sure play into how much you enjoy it. I had heard so many bad things about "You, Me and Dupree" that I was pleasantly surprised. I laughed out loud several times. Owen Wilson is funny. He's got that crazy nose he refuses to fix, and I like that. B for Dupree because he throws seven kids of smoke...

I also watched "Elizabethtown". This one is actually as big a mess as critics said. How can Cameron Crowe make "Jerry Maguire", "Say Anything", "Almost Famous" and this. It just doesn't come together. It's like the Yankees lately. Has all the right parts, but not the end product. Well, actually it doesn't have all the right parts. Orlando Bloom is terrible. He's okay in a pirate outfit, but awful in Elizabethtown. Kirsten Dunst is better, although she tries too hard. C for the movie. A- for the music.

The most improved show on television is "30 Rock". This is really coming into its own. If it weren't up against Grey's Anatomy and one of the seven CSI's, it would already be a big hit. Alec Baldwin improves anything he's in, even Elizabethtown, while oddball Tracy Morgan gets big laughs. The recent episode on racial stereotypes was spot on. Live every week like it's Shark Week...

"Lost" lost me. Didn't think that was possible during season one...

Looking for a great dining experience in Des Moines? Cafe Di Scala. Beautiful atmosphere and delicious food. Highly recommended. Bring your wallet...

Held a birthday party for my son, Colin, at a Des Moines Bucs game. His first sentence was---not making this up--- "Let's Go Bucs". The Bucs made it a blast for all, kids and adults...



Finally got an iPod at that party, thanks to Todd Bailey. It was my birthday too. I had joked that Colin wanted an iPod for his birthday. Todd took the bait. So far I'm just filling my new toy with U2, Springsteen, and Van Morrison. I need to try new things...