Murphy's Law

Am I the only parent whose life is turned over to Little League baseball this month? I know I'm not alone. I have two sons who play at Raccoon Valley in Des Moines. It's a terrific league, even with the world's dustiest gravel road making a car wash pointless for three months. With winter weather for most of April, games got so backed up, we might as well pitch a tent at the fields on weekends, and plan all dinner breaks for the concession stand on weekdays. At least the food is good. Much better than Wells Fargo Arena, and much cheaper...

Speaking of the Well, big props to the Stars. The organization keeps learning about the market and improving its product. I had a great time on my most recent visit. Good luck to the Stars and Bucs in the playoffs. Both play Omaha...

A big deal was made of the fact new Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie drinks Pepsi for breakfast. Is it really that out of the ordinary? I ask because I've been drinking diet Pepsi with my Wheaties for 20 years...

I spent half an hour visiting with new Hawkeye coach Todd Lickliter last week, and I really like him. I think he's genuine, sincere, and excited. I'll be stunned if it's not a good fit for both Lickliter and Iowa. The guy can coach too. Look at NCAA Tournament wins for the following coaches the past six years (Lickliter's reign at Butler):

Lickliter: 4 wins
McDermott: 0
Tom Davis: 0 (4 years at Drake)
Steve Alford: 0 (only win at Iowa was 2001)

Look for McDermott to pick up his first win soon, but you get the point. One Butler team in the Sweet 16 could be a fluke---remember Alford took an SMS team that far---but two trips means a guy can coach...

Big reception for Lickliter at the always raucous Polk County I-Club Spring Banquet, but credit Hawkeye Nation, the fans saved their biggest ovation, by far, for Kirk Ferentz. Six bowl games in six years should trump promise and potential every time...

What is Greg McDermott going to do about Mike Taylor? Taylor is already suspended after being accused of vandalism, and now Ames police believe Taylor shoplifted a box of cold medicine (cold medicine? Doesn't exactly make him Jesse James). Taylor also missed games because of academic problems, and his troubles predate his arrival at ISU. The guess here is multiple game suspension. A talented athlete in trouble can wreak havoc on a coach's conscience. Remember Berryman? Does anyone honestly think McCarney would have given Berryman a third chance if he weren't a game-changer? Of course not. These coaches are under tremendous pressure to win, and they're protecting million dollar salaries. However, Taylor is no Berryman, I suspect McDermott is no McCarney, and cold medicine theft is most certainly not assaulting a fellow student. (give us your take on Taylor's punishment on the whotv.com Web poll, or leave comments here). By the way, Taylor led the Cyclones in steals...


President Bush was at his comforting best at Virginia Tech Tuesday. I still can't fathom what happened on that campus. It's a chilling reality: our kids aren't even safe at school. Not if someone has enough hatred...

I like John Edwards. I like many of his ideas. But $400 for a haircut?! I can't get my mind around that, not from a guy who talks about wasteful spending. True, a guy with hair like mine is no doubt jealous of a guy with hair like his, but I always feel like $15 is enough for a cut at the famous Roosevelt Barber. If those guys weren't so nice, I'd look for a cheaper place. Well, that is until I heard about Edwards. $400!?...

I took my mother and son, Colin, to an I-Cubs matinee Monday. It was absolutely perfect. The I-Cubs do it right. Everybody who works there is helpful and friendly, especially Cubbie Bear. The ballpark itself looks fantastic. It just keeps getting better. The green seats, beer garden in right, and old fashioned scoreboards really took it up a notch last year. The fountains this year are okay too, if you're into fountains, which I guess I'm not...

At the game, I ran into KGGO's Heather Burnside. She had a funny story about how one of her friends thought the PA guy was racial profiling with his choices of songs as each Cub batter approached the box. (The players choose their own music.) Also saw KXNO's Cotman. He was just back from Arizona, so it was easy to spot the only guy with a tan. (Cotman's partner, Geoff Conn, does a fine job as the I-Cubs announcer.) My favorite part of the day---next to Colin hugging Cubbie for the 43rd time---was when the crowd started chanting "What's Bugging Andy?". They even put it on the scoreboard. Andy looked ready to crawl under a rock...

Good to see Felix Pie at Wrigley Field. Played like he didn't want to come back to Des Moines. Timing couldn't have been better, or worse, depending how you look at it. He flew to Chicago on Felix Pie jersey giveaway night at Principal Park. The I-Cubs still gave away the shirts, and catcher Geovany Soto had the best quote: "I hope they give my jersey away next, so I can get the hell out of here". Nothing against Des Moines, but they all want to be in The Show...

I loved the new director's cut of The Natural. It's a better movie with improved pacing, backstory, and context. However, it's still jarring to see something you know by heart tinkered with. Andy says he's sticking with the original. I'll now play the new version...

I was supposed to go see the Full Monty at the Des Moines Playhouse Saturday night, but couldn't make it when the babysitter fell through (she didn't actually fall through anything, she just couldn't come). My mom went and offers the following review: "Very funny. I laughed a lot, even though I was by myself because my son dropped out at the last minute. The first half is funnier than the second, and it was a tad long, but I recommend it, even for grandmothers like me. I was a little nervous I'd see things I didn't want to see, especially on some of these guys, but the lighting keeps you from having to go to confession. I love the Playhouse, and liked the Full Monty." Thanks mom...

Also took Colin to Firehouse Dog. I'd review it but I think it will be out of theaters by the time you read this. Okay, here goes anyway: heart warming fun, too long, and a little intense for young kids. B-

The Drake Relays begins next week, or as local sportscasters like to call it, "Our annual Peggy's summit meeting with the Relays Godfather, JohnWalters"...

If you're reading this before Thursday night, please try to go see Bob Costas for free at Drake's Knapp Center (7:30 p.m.). Costas is a dynamic speaker whose intelligence and insight blow me away. He's the gold standard...