McDermott Opens Up, Pornstache vs. Shorts, and Colin Calls 911.

• I think Greg McDermott really helped himself on SoundOFF Sunday night. No one questions McDermott's integrity or authenticity, but I found him surprisingly open about the mistakes he's made, warning signs he's missed, and lessons he's learned. It's hard not to root for the guy.
• McDermott has had a perfect storm of bad luck---most of it not his doing. At the end of the day, the team with the best players usually wins. How much better would Iowa State have been last year had McDermott not kicked Mike Taylor off the team? How many more games would the Cyclones have won this season with Wesley Johnson helping Craig Brackins? How long will it take us to wonder the same thing about next season if Brackins goes pro?
• Brackins needs at least another year to get stronger---maybe two.
• Does it feel to you like Drake won the mythical state championship?
• I'm still trying to get over the fact my father ordered a Cobb salad with a side salad. Who does that?
• Montell Marion's critics look pretty smart right now. He's still young. I hope he can turn it around.
• A-Rod is full of crap.
• Tim McClelland is a good guy, and a great umpire. The best in the Bigs. The man almost always gets it right, but Tim's wrong to give the Major League Baseball steroid cheaters a pass because they were just trying to gain an edge. It doesn't matter if baseball didn't have a rule prohibiting performance enhancers. It was against the law, and a well known health risk. It's also unfair to all the guys who didn't cheat, but got left behind. My friend Tim needs to check instant replay on this one and reverse the call.
• Not even eagle-eyed Tim could see the uniform numbers on the Hawkeyes new away jerseys. What were they thinking going black-on-black? The only thing that can save this for me is if Mediacom puts the Big Ten Network in HD. You can see anything in HD.
• The way I cringe when I see a picture of me with a mustache 25 years ago is how basketball players of this era will feel when they see themselves wearing XXXL shorts.
• On second thought, the pornstache is much worse.
• I love Celebrity Apprentice. Not only is it entertaining, but one look at Joan Rivers' face will keep me from ever having plastic surgery.
• Speaking of the Apprentice, when I was working my first job in Georgia, and Hershel Walker was a god in that state, fresh off his Heisman winning season, he agreed to a lengthy interview with me. When I got back to the station, the audio had a terrible hiss. I ran out to the airport (I was a one-man-band), and caught Hershel as he was getting on a booster's private jet. The man got off the plane with a smile, and did the entire interview again. I'm rooting for Hershel.
• I saw "Milk". Thought it was good, but overrated. Sean Penn gives an Oscar-worthy performance, though I still preferred Mickey Rourke in the "The Wrestler". It you are at all homophobic, Milk will make you uncomfortable at times. It's rated R for sexuality. So is "The Reader". If a 35 year old woman seducing a 15 year old boy makes you uncomfortable, avoid this one too. I thought this was one of the best movies of the year, though like Milk, not upbeat. Kate Winslett proves she has no acting equal right now.
• My mother just put an 8x10 picture of my son Cade on her wall with me cropped out! Mom, when did I become the guy you crop out of the picture?! Grandmas love their grandkids.
• It was great to see Providence knock off the #1 team in the land. I miss Keno.
• Is it possible U2's new album can live up to the over the top reviews? (e.g. Rolling Stone: 5 stars). It's constantly compared to "Achtung Baby" which is second only to "Joshua Tree" in my U2 library.
• My dad secretly watches "The View". He'll never admit this.
• Facebook took over my life for a week, but it's finally calming down. It is a joyous jolt to reconnect with so many people you thought you'd stay in touch with, but for one reason or another, did not. I held out for a long time, but I'm glad I came to my senses.
• "SoundOFF Nation" on Facebook is nearing 400 fans in 10 days. That even tops "Andy Fales is a god".
• Yes, it's true. My four year old son Colin called 911 because his older brother wouldn't play with him. Some things you can't make up.