Sunday, November 30, 2008

Remembering Stevie, Greene for Heisman, and no longer laughing at Metrodome scoring.

  • I was in Old Navy Friday, wondering how it's possible with 10,000 pair of jeans on sale for $15, that not one would be a 32x32, when my cell phone rang around 5 p.m. It was Shawn Terrell to tell me Stevie Hicks was dead. I didn't know Stevie well, interviewed him a few times, but like many of you, Hicks' death hit me hard. It's been on my mind all weekend. I think it's one of those things where you just can't get your mind around a guy who looked that strong and healthy being dead and gone forever. One of Stevie's friends told me he was really struggling to find happiness and peace of mind. It's a stark reminder to us all that these guys aren't superheroes or robots. They're real people with real feelings. Rest in peace, Stevie Hicks.
  • No good segue from something so sad. I wasn't surprised Dan McCarney immediately released a statement on Hicks. Not everyone thinks McCarney was a good head coach, but no one questions how much he cared about his players. It was good to see Dan on the Florida sideline Saturday, surrounded by blue chip players and all-americans. I'm sure he wonders what he could have done with talent like that in Ames.
  • Tim Tebow is a stud. The guy once ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one. I don't know what kind of pro Tebow will make, but he is a great college football player, and by all accounts, an even better person.
  • Look for Tebow to place higher at this year's Heisman ceremony than some expect. The Heisman almost always breaks down by regional bias, which makes sense. The more you've seen someone play, the more likely you are to vote for that person. The Big 12 players will all split votes. Bradford or McCoy? Harrell or Crabtree? What about Daniel? Will he get a vote or two? Meantime, Tebow has the south pretty much to himself.
  • I'm waiting until the last minute to vote. Right now, my vote looks like this: 1) Colt McCoy 2) Tebow 3) Shonn Greene. Sam Bradford is the favorite in Las Vegas, but I don't think for a minute he's the "most outstanding college football player in the United States". Bradford might be the MVP, but that's not what the Heisman ballot says. A lot of voters learned this the hard way when they voted for OU's Jason White. Look at the candidates, and put them on a bad football team. Would Bradford be a Heisman candidate quarterbacking Iowa State? No way. However, I'll bet Austen Arnaud could put up some sick numbers at Oklahoma (not Bradford's, but still good ones.) Would Shonn Greene be a candidate running the football at Iowa State? Possibly. You could put Greene on Oklahoma or Texas, and he'd likely be even better (though he might not run the football as much).
  • I think Texas got hosed by the BCS. There's no good way to decide this mess that continues in D1 college football, but head-to-head should come first in the tiebreaker, and Texas beat Oklahoma on a neutral field. Then again, Tech beat Texas...
  • I laughed too when I first heard about the Metrodome sexcapade, but the embarrassed kids and humiliated husband have robbed me of any enjoyment. That, and the fact Iowa punked Minnesota 55-0, and Minnesotans are laughing at us anyway.
  • Gene Chizik firing two coaches (Tony Petersen & Shawn Raney) and demoting two others (Robert McFarland & Wayne Bolt) shows Chizik can make tough calls. It's not easy firing friends. It also shows Chizik realizes just how desperate it's become in Ames. Iowa State needs to get much better sooner, not later. Chizik has already begun the search for two new coordinators.
  • The first 30 minutes of "Role Models" is crudely hilarious. Jenny and I fell out of our seats. It doesn't keep the laughs coming at the starting pace, but a surprisingly sweet story mostly makes up for it. A-
  • Also enjoyed "Bolt" with the little boys, though the 3D added nothing except $6 to our bill. B+
  • Chris Hassel and Shawn Terrell sit in for Jon Miller Monday through Wednesday this week on KXNO from 2 to 4 p.m. That should be fun. Shawn will try to keep Hassel from going off the tracks, though Hassel unhinged might make even better radio.
  • Props to Jon for predicting Outback Bowl from the jump. It's not a done deal yet, but Jon looks smarter each day.
  • It was not an encouraging weekend for college basketball in Iowa. Many of our men's (Iowa, Drake, UNI) and women's teams (Iowa, ISU) finally played good teams, and all were blown out.
  • I need to go do SoundOff, and as I do, I realize something else to add to my Thanksgiving list of "Things I'm Thanks for": hosting this show with Andy Fales each week. At this time a year ago, I thought those days were done, and that perspective makes me appreciate the partnership even more.
  • I spent most of the long weekend on the couch watching TV and movies with the family. This isn't good news for the President's Council on Physical Fitness, but it was glorious for me.
  • You know you have a good friend when she'll housesit, dogsit, and turtlesit. Thanks Heather!

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would've done all of that for you Keith...It's not like I'm not standing outside, freezing my ass off anyway...

Oh...by the way, you're out of pretzels again...

Tim + Janice said...

Great thoughts about Stevie and Mac....thanks.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for remembering Stevie and sharing your thoughts as you heard the news - just as his great amount of relatives were struck...so were you. I - and I'm sure the rest of the family -appreciate your comments.

Sincerely
Florence Goodwin

mcbrewski said...

Shane- are you implying that you're some kind of Keith stalker, or just one of his outdoor pets or something?
Stevie Hicks was a stud at Iowa State at time when Iowa state was lacking in the stud department. His death is shocking, and so are the investigation results of his death. No foul play? I must have missed something, but how does a healthy young man die in the street, and foul play is completely ruled out?
Regarding the Big 12 love triangle of Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma- I agree that Texas should be in the title game, but not because they beat Oklahoma head to head. I think it IS legit to rank a team higher than the team that beat them, simply because teams can improve over the course of the year, and teams can get worse. That's what rankings are- judgements on how good the team is at the exact moment. That being said, I think Texas is slightly the better team right now, having an edge at quarterback and defense.

Anonymous said...

Well mcbrewski, while filling in on the Jon Miller Show, Keith realized that I seem to find him and Andy wherever they go, so I figured "why hide it anymore"...

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get started on adding Chris to the "Keith, Andy and Shawn" shrine I have behind the secret panel in the walk-in closet...

Anonymous said...

well that was SUPPOSED to say "shane-marshalltown-freezing in Keith's snow covered yard"...apparently it doesn't hold THAT many characters...kinda ruined the joke...yep...

Anonymous said...

Shane in Marshalltown,
Dude you got to get a life...
Keith have you seen "Four Christmas's" yet? Very good and I've never really noticed before how HOT Reese Witherspoon is! Man she is smokin hot!

Anonymous said...

Oh NOW someone tells me...

Thanks for lookin' out Anonymous!

Anonymous said...

Your welcome, anytime.
Merry Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas indeed!

lizzy said...

Just a piece of information - ISU women play Iowa on Sunday - 12/7 and as of right now, there are 10 busses of fans heading to IA City. Who knows how many plan to drive on their own. it's a great deal for $35 - travel/ticket/lunch and a t-shirt. Not to mention our favorite team!

Anonymous said...

Hold on just a second Lizzy! Just exactly what team IS "our favorite team"??? hmm???

lizzy said...

shane-
I'm sorry if it wasn't more obvious....

GO CLONES! BEAT IOWA!

You have a nice day, ok?

Anonymous said...

How about some love for the Wartburg Knights who are in the round of Eight in the NCAA Division III football playoffs? They play the defending National Champion University of Wisconcin-Whitewater on 12/6.

Anonymous said...

Wartburg??? Is it division 3 wrestling time again?

Anonymous said...

Darn you Lizzy...darn you!! Good luck to your teams though...when they're not playing Iowa.

Anonymous said...

How about some love for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, for saving us from having to make sure to give some love to Wartburg...

Anonymous said...

Way to show your class Shane. Move to Wisconsin and cheer for them full time.

Anonymous said...

It truly has nothing to do with class and I'll do that as soon as you move to Waverly...

And I was joking...if you want love for a Wartburg or any other D-III school, call or E-mail SoundOFF and give it to them.

mcbrewski said...

Let's not forget- Props to my neice's dance recital on Friday night. She goes up against the neighbors daughter. Should be a heated competition. For tickets call 1-800-SPORTINGEVENTTHATNOBODYCARESABOUTBUTYOUBECAUSEOFPESONALREASONSSOLETSNOTGOAHEADANDSHAREWITHEVERYBODYEXCEPTFORTHEFACTTHATITSFUNNYONMURPHYSBLOG.

Anonymous said...

I tried dialing that number Mcbrewski and my battery went dead. Is there a website I could visit for tix?

Keith Murphy said...

Just back from vacation... As always, I enjoy all the feedback. Several good ones this week, but none better than mcbrewski's news on his niece's dance recital. Good stuff.

Anonymous said...

mcbrewski's niece is going to clean house...the neighbor's daughter comes into this match-up totally overrated! She hasn't faced anywhere near the level of competition...

Take mcbrewski's niece...and the points...