Monday, January 14, 2008

Scattershot thoughts...

Drake belongs in the top 25, but when you're coming from nowhere, it's hard to move up. Two more wins, and I guarantee they're in Monday. If Drake and Illinois State both win Wednesday, Saturday's game at the Knapp Center would feature a clash of 6-0 teams for the first time in conference history. What a great story...

I'm okay with the Barnstormers signing former Cyclone Jason Berryman. I was against Dan McCarney putting him back on scholarship, but this is a pro team, and unlike most star athletes, Berryman actually paid an appropirate price for his criminal behavior...

Cheers to my former colleague Mark Meisenheimer. Mark wrote another book, "No Pants Required", about sportscasting. Info at www.nopantsrequired.com (I'm shocked that URL isn't taken by some porn peddler, but it's actually Mark's book.). There are chapters showcasing several of my favorite people in this business: Andy Fales, Todd Bailey, Zubin Mehenti, and John Walters...

That was great coaching by Todd Lickliter against #6 Michigan State. Lickliter's Iowa team was completely outgunned by the far more talented Spartans, but he found a way to give Iowa a chance by slowing the game down and giving his team a chance to win ugly. It wasn't pretty, but it worked...

I'm convinced the Big Ten Network is bad for Iowa. The last thing you need to do is teach your fans they can live without you, and that's just what the BTN is doing for Iowa. It also hurts attendance by making the players less familiar to fans, and by starting many games at 8 p.m. That's way too late for weeknight games. How many parents are taking their kids from Des Moines to Iowa City on a school night when they won't be back until midnight? I had to wait for Shawn to show highlights of Saturday's shocker because I don't have the Big Ten Network either...

The I-Cubs do just about everything right. FanFest is another example...

I've never seen an NFL quarterback play better than Tom Brady is right now. It's unreal...

Craig Brackins should score at least 15 points every game for Iowa State. The guy has offensive skills like few players anywhere. He's a Freshman, so he'll look lost on occasion, but he should also take over now and again...

Any talk of Greg McDermott not doing a good job is premature. Give him time. It's too early...

No Country for Old Men is a great film. Tense, violent, and unpredictable. However, if you like neat, tidy endings, stay away. A-

Andy and I are overwhelmed at all the e-mails (and old fashioned letters). We've received more than a hundred, most of them positive and enthusiastic. (There are dozens of examples in the previous three blog entries)

I can't beging to fully articulate how nice it is to have Andy back. We were giddy doing SoundOFF together again, and if anything, might have been having too much fun, but we'll work hard to find the right tone.

I also feel blessed to have Shawn Terrell, Chris Hassel, and Heather Burnside contributing good ideas and content to both SoundOFF and our nightly sportscasts...

Finally, good to have Erin back. She gave us all a scare on caucus night...

Keith

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello are you going to answer my question? Is Andy single? Looking?

Unknown said...

engaged.

Keith Murphy said...

He is engaged.

Anonymous said...

Is it true they're already expecting?

Anonymous said...

Meisenheimer's book looks kinda lame to me. The chapter on Fales is called Big Market "Success" (lasted three months) and the one on Walters is Nice Guys Finish "First" (isn't WOI dead last?) And didn't Meisenheimer leave there to get out of the business altogether and go to work for a retirement home?

Anonymous said...

where did Meisenheimer go?

Keith Murphy said...

Anonymous 1,

No.

Anonymous 2,

I haven't read Mark's book yet, so I can't offer a review. However, Andy can now be a teacher to many up-and-comers about how success and happiness are not always defined by market size and salary.

As for John Walters, I suppose if you think finishing first in life means finishing first in the ratings, you're right. However, if you definie being a success as being a good man, than John is #1.

Mark did get out of the business, but I don't think that disqualifies him from writing about the experience. As far as I know, John Grisham is no longer a practicing attorney.

Anonymous 3,

He's in Kansas City, former home of Andy Fales.

Thanks.
Keith

Keith Murphy said...

p.s. sorry about the typos.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back Andy

Anonymous said...

Can we get off the "Andy wasn't a success because he only lasted three months" kick. Just be happy we got him back, I am!

Hats off to Coach Lickliter, he and his players took charge of the Mich State game and got the job done. I have a golfing buddy that constantly reminds me that it's not "how you get to the bottom of the cup, it's how many strokes it took to get there". Ugly or not a win is a win.

Keno Davis should be NCAA coach of the year, plain and simple. And where did they get this Johnson kid? He has got to be the nicest most down to earth college player I've ever seen interviewed.

I hope Coach McDermott can bring my beloved 'Clones up snuff pretty soon. Not a slam, I think he's the man for the job. I'm just hungry for Hilton Magic to return.

I agree 100% with you Murph regarding Berryman. Pro sports is a different game than collegiate and they don't have the same rules. I look forward to watching him tear up the competition.

Murph with the personalities you have backing you have the dream job. The WHO team is definitely the best in the area.

By the way, I would have sworn the Murphy on WOI was your little brother. He looks like you 10 years ago (but with hair).

Later!

Bill

Anonymous said...

the best sports team ever is on whotv. that is something i can say with pride

Anonymous said...

Mark Meisenheimer is at Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community in Kansas City.

Anonymous said...

mark retired? didnt know he was that old

Keith Murphy said...

That last one is really funny. Well played.

Anonymous said...

I am definatley glad to have Andy back. Who cares if he didn't like his job down there. I am sure we have all accepted jobs to better ourselves and later realized we are not as happy as we were and maybe it was a big mistake. So get over it people and just be glad that he would even come back to Des Moines!!! I am glad to have him back. Keep up the good work. WHOTV 13 has 4 of the best sports people around!!!