Hawkeye No Longer Top Draw

• ...Hawkeye Pierce, that is. Super Bowl XLIV (I think that's 44) becomes the most watched television show in history. It topples the great M*A*S*H finale, "Goodbye, Farewell & Amen". It was a different era in 1983. Three networks still dominated. There were far fewer televisions, and far fewer Americans. M*A*S*H remains the only non-Super Bowl in the all-time top ten, but it's now #2. The Saints-Colts drew more than 106 million viewers---highest rated Super Bowl in 23 years (Giants-Broncos). I watched that M*A*S*H finale in my college dorm TV room. Do dorms even have those now, or does everyone just have a TV?
• Another great game. Still can't believe Peyton made that pass, though Porter made a great play. Does it keep Peyton off the Mt. Rushmore of quarterbacks for now? I've got Unitas, Montana, Marino, Elway ... but Brady and Manning still can play their way on there. Maybe even Favre.
• I thought The Who was okay. The stage upstaged the show. (Can a stage upstage?) The NFL needs to think about going a little younger. Who's next... The Oak Ridge Boys? How 'bout Green Day or Coldplay or the Black Eyed Peas or Jay-Z or the Isiserettes. Who am I missing?
• My favorite commercial was for Doritos. The little boy sees his mother's date checking out his mom as she walks away. Kid slaps the man into attention: "Two rules. 1) Don't touch my momma. 2) Don't eat my Doritos". I also liked Favre as 2020 MVP, Betty White playing football, and the sentimental Google ad. Really disappointed in the Super Bowl Shuffle reunion. Lame. Go Daddy ads need to go away.
• Speaking of Go Daddy, Danica says she'll race Saturday at Daytona in the Nationwide Series. I don't know who's going to win, but I can predict at least on driver who's track record suggests she won't.
• Drake couldn't have a better guy holding its all time scoring record than Josh Young. Way to go, Josh.
• Drake hosts #19 UNI Wednesday. 19 --- highest ranking in UNI history.
• Took the whole family to the Ames High/Iowa Energy triple-header Saturday. We had a great time. The Energy really deserves more fans. It's the best basketball in the state, and the whole operation is first class and entertaining. We'll be back soon.

2 a.m. and every time I think I'm done answering emails, another one comes in. I've been at it for more than two hours.

In the 14 years of SoundOFF, we've never had more letters of support and praise in one night. I can't begin to explain how much that means. It's been humbling. We also continue receiving criticism, but the tone has changed---in most cases---to constructive. Thank you.

I've tried to answer each email and much of the feedback on this blog individually, but unless you're writing about something other than the polarizing Lickliter spoof, I don't  think there's anything else I can add. I've written two lengthy columns here, and we devoted much of SoundOFF to the controversy. You'll find "I Think", "What's Bugging Andy", my interview with Chris, and "Ask Gary Dolpin" on the whotv.com video player.

Thank you for stopping by.
Keith

The Hate and Vitriol Aimed At Hassel Is Worse Than Anything He Did

I considered posting some of the vitriol that continues coming in to the TV station, but it makes me sad and ashamed. It is, at best, the definition of overreaction, and at worst, displaced anger.

Though I thought Chris Hassel's movie preview lampoon on SoundOFF was directed too much at one player, I did chuckle before cringing. Had I watched it first, I would have asked for changes. There is a difference between standing up for the what someone said, and standing up for someone's right to say it. I understand some fans forgetting this, but anyone in the media shouldn't need the reminder.

Some of the personal attacks on Chris Hassel, here and elsewhere, are as bad, if not worse, than anything he did. It's sad that the hypocrisy goes unnoticed by those who dish it.

We now have many people, including some from the U of I, commenting at length on a satirical video they haven't even seen. Criticism usually requires familiarity and context. It's not too much to ask. The past 48 hours, curiosity has gotten people. Many who read the newspaper stories and message boards felt compelled to finally watch the video. A frequent reaction: "That's it? That's what all this fuss is about?" Others want Chris fired, homeless, and miserable. I'm not exaggerating. I've had people wish humiliation for my kids. Not one of my children has reached the adult age of 20.

It's sad to see an excuse for a frustrated feeding frenzy. We're better than this. Or we should be.

Though WHO-TV President Dale Woods appreciated Gary Barta's request for an apology on behalf of the station, Dale respectfully declined. However, as Dale and I have both pointed out, if Chris chooses to apologize to John Lickliter, Todd Lickliter, or anyone else, Chris has our full support. If he does apologize to John or Todd, I hope he does it privately. An apology should come from one's conscience, not his desire for good PR. We've already had enough grandstanding on this. The last thing the world needs is an insincere public apology.

(By the way, I respect Barta's apology request, though it did give a dying story new life, and turned more attention than ever to the failing Iowa basketball program. I also appreciated Todd's general reaction as a proctective father and coach, though he was going on hearsay.)

I do know Chris did not set out to embarrass John Lickliter. Chris realizes some took it that way and feels bad about it. He also knows some people did understand and appreciate his basic premise for the movie satire: What if Rudy had to play more than half the game, and there was no happy ending? Chris' actual target was Todd Lickliter's program, not John Lickliter's shortcomings. As our GM pointed out, no Hawkeye fans complained when Chris did a spoof of Ricky Stanzi throwing interceptions for touchdowns because the football team was winning, and Stanzi doesn't look out of place. (Ask yourself, would people be this upset if the player in the video was Jarryd Cole?)

For those of you with honest, thoughtful, constructive criticism, like that which I tried to give Chris, I sincerely thank you. For the rest, I hope you'll consider that you are now doing exactly what you're accusing Chris of doing.
 
We have also had unprecedented calls and emails of support. I'll confess that I spend less time chewing on these than the anonymous hate, and that's just wrong. I've learned a lot this week, and not all of it makes me feel good.
 
Thank you for your time.
Keith

The Lickliter Spoof Fallout

University of Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta asked WHO-TV to apologize for Chris Hassel's controversial John Lickliter spoof Sunday Night on SoundOFF. I respect Mr. Barta's decision to stand up for one of his, just as we stand by one of ours. Hawkeye fans should think more of Barta for doing this, not less.

I've received passionate e-mails and phone calls all week, including a few tonight. Most of the negative letters ask for my  take on Chris' segment. Here is one of my recent responses:

I appreciate you taking the time to write and ask for my opinion on Chris Hassel's spoof Sunday night. I take your constructive criticism seriously.


I will tell you that the Lickliter piece also made me uncomfortable. Had I seen it before it aired, I would have asked for changes. (Chris likes his taped pieces to air as we see them for the first time, so that our on-air reaction is honest. In retrospect, this is flawed idea, and we will no longer do this.) Like you, I thought the Lickliter spoof crossed the line. I chuckled early and cringed late.

However, the segment should not be confused with journalism, or a report in one of our Emmy award-winning newscasts. It's SoundOFF, a sports and entertainment show featuring strong opinions, passionate viewer feedback, and hopefully, a few laughs. It's closer in tone to the Daily Show or SNL than it is to NBC Nightly News.

Again, let me be clear, I did not care for the target of the spoof, but I'm glad we have such a popular forum for dissenting views and opinions. I have been stunned how many people loved it the video. I'm also aware of the many people who did not care for it. Satire is highly subjective. What's over the line for someone often depends on their biases and views going in. Humor, as you no doubt know, also often takes on a slight tone of mean-spiritedness. The line to not cross mostly depends whom you ask.

When Chris told me the general idea of his latest spoof, my advice was to "make sure it's not mean toward John. He's doing his best, and just wants to play for his dad." Chris honestly didn't think it was mean. I know he feels bad that he offended (some) people. He was trying to show what the movie Rudy would be like if Rudy had to play a lot more, and there was no happy ending. It was intended as a commentary on the state of the Iowa basketball program, not John Lickliter.

I don't agree with the content of "What's Bugging Andy?" each week, and I don't agree with everything Chris Hassel does or says, but I stand by their right to say it. (We're fortunate we have bosses who feel the same way, which is nothing to take for granted these days.)

If Chris wants to sincerely apologize, either publicly or privately, we certainly support that. We will not force him to do it, for that would accomplish little.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I appreciate your feedback.

• You can start engraving "Northern Iowa" on the MVC championship trophy. With the win over Wichita State tonight, it's over. I love watching the Panthers.
• Hard to believe how fast Iowa State became irrelevent this season. I thought the Cyclones were NCAA tourney bound, but that seems like ages ago. Greg McDermott is a perfect fit in many ways, but if he doesn't win, fans won't care about the rest.
• Everyone realizes the players at Iowa are trying hard. That's just not a Big Ten caliber team.
• I can't get too excited about National Signing Day. I care when they start wearing the uniforms. 
• Another classic Ferentz class. Nowhere near the top ten, but guys who fit the system, and several will end up in the NFL.
• Paul Rhoads brought in Iowa State's best class in nearly a decade. That video from the Nebraska visitor's locker room didn't hurt.
• Of the 10 Oscar nominees for best picture, I've only seen Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, The Hurt Locker, and Inglourious Basterds. 50%! That's a new low for me. Of the movies I've seen, I liked The Blind Side the most, and think Inglourious Basterds was the best picture, Hurt Locker second.
  
  

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Hey it's Shawn...

I'm tempted to start this off with a Ned Ryerson joke... you know Ned Ryerson? Got the shingles real bad senior year... almost didn't graduate?  Nevermind.

Two years ago, Drake won on memorable buzzer-beater at Bradley.  Tuesday night, the Braves returned the favor.  The Bulldogs not only lost the game, they lost a tooth.  Josh Young caught an elbow in the paint, which left Young one tooth shy of a full set.  Both Erin Kiernan and Lynn Melling had the same reaction... gasp!  Erin and Lynn have often remarked how much they love Young's infectious smile.  I don't know much about dentistry, but I hope Josh's smile makes a full recovery.

It was great to catch up with members of Drake's 2008 NCAA Tournament team during the alumni game over the weekend.  Not surprisingly, a number of players from that magical team are already making meaningful contributions to society.  Klayton Korver tells us he's living in Salt Lake City with his brother Kyle, who plays for the Utah Jazz.  Together, they run a non-profit organization.  Two things the Korver's have always been good at... playing basketball and helping others.

In High School hoops, the marquee matchup of the regular season took place at Des Moines East.  The Scarlets (17-0) and Ankeny Hawks (17-0) played before a raucous crowd.  East pulled away late for the win.  I have a feeling there will be a rematch... next month at Wells Fargo Arena.

Chris Hassel and I had a blast filling in on "Murph and Andy" Tuesday.  My favorite part was an interview with Colin Cloherty, a rookie tight end for the Indianapolis Colts. Colin played at Brown, which is why Peyton Manning calls him "Ivy." By the way, Colin is my first cousin. Guess which team I'll be rooting for on Sunday?

Wednesday will be one of the busiest days of the year in our sports office.  It's college football signing day, and there's a full slate of college basketball.  In the afternoon, I'll be in Ames to find out what Paul Rhoads thinks of his new pledges. Then tomorrow night, I'll be in Cedar Falls as the Panthers host Wichita St. at the McLeod Center.  With a win, UNI will pretty much lock up its second-straight regular season MVC title.

Talk to you soon.

Shawn

Monday - February 1, 2010

Chris here...

It's too bad Butler and Northern Iowa were both promised home games for this years BracketBuster weekend. It would have been fun to see another Top 25 showdown at Hinkle, or even McLeod (Drake beat Butler in the spotlight BracketBuster game in 2008). Instead, UNI hosts 17-6 Old Dominion on Friday, February 19th. Drake travels to the Matadome in Northridge California. They'll take on a bad Cal-State Northridge team.

Greg McDermott told us that guard Scott Christopherson has been playing with Mono for the last month. That's a pretty tough kid. It also shows that the transfer from Marquette cares about his team. They can't afford to lose anyone else.

Hawkeyesports.com, the official website of the Iowa Hawkeyes, has a countdown banner in the upper right hand corner of every page. Only 214 days, 7 hours, 2 minutes, and 14 seconds, until the Hawks kick off the 2010 season. That says a lot about the state of the men's basketball program.

Todd Lickliter said, on Monday, that he may play his son, John, more. 'Little Lick' saw 24 minutes in Saturday's loss at Michigan. The coach is getting a lot of heat for playing his kid, who many believe should not be on the floor. It's a tough situation for everyone. I feel bad for John because he's an easy target. I zeroed in on the guy on SoundOFF Sunday night, as some of you may have seen. It's not his fault that he isn't as talented as the other players around him, and he definitely tries to make up for it by playing with heart. For the record, I like Todd Lickliter, and I enjoy watching John play. I'm not going to say he doesn't belong on the floor because, on this team, he actually does. The bigger issue is the lack of talented players throughout the roster. Rest assured, if Kelly, Peterson, Davis, and Palmer, were still in Iowa City, John wouldn't be needed on the court. Is it coach Lickliter's fault? I'm not sure, but I really enjoyed watching them play against Michigan State, Indiana, and Ohio State. Let's hope they get back on the right track against Illinois.

Casey Blake made it official today. The Indianola school district is now $1 million dollars richer.

What should the new Big Ten logo look like, if they expand to 12 teams?
http://www.sportspickle.com/article:538/proposed-logos-for-the-12-team-big-ten
My vote is for 'BIGTENish"

Sunday - January 31st, 2010

Hey, it's Hassel, and it's finally my turn to update our new sports blog. Football is over as far as I'm concerned. I didn't watch one lick of the Pro Bowl, and the Super Bowl is the most over-hyped sporting event in the world. I don't mind the 7-hour pregame show, or the 4-minute commercial breaks. The thing I absolutely cannot stand, is the halftime show. It's 35 minutes of pure garbage. That being said, I'll watch the game start-to-finish. Although the Colts have Iowa ties, I'm rooting for the Saints.

I was at the Drake-Creighton game, on Saturday night. It reminded me of the 2008 season. The only difference was, Emmenecker and Korver were wearing headsets and not jerseys. They were guest commentators on the TV broadcast. It was easily the best atmosphere at the Knapp Center in the Mark Phelps era. I think the Dogs can beat anyone at Arch Madness, if they keep shooting the ball like they have been.

Northern Iowa will jump back into the AP Top 25 on Monday afternoon. At 19-2, I think 6 or 7 more wins will be good enough to secure an at-large NCAA tournament bid. Of course, the point will be moot if they win the Valley tournament.

Both Drake and UNI have 8 conference games left. They'll also play respective 'BracketBuster' games later this month. The pairings will be announced on Monday afternoon.

Indianola native, Casey Blake, will present the Indianola school district with a $1 million dollar check, Monday evening. Blake plays for the Dodgers, in Hollywood, but he hasn't forgotten his Iowa roots.

Here's what to watch for, this week:
- UNI can virtually wrap up the Valley with a home win against Wichita on Wednesday. A victory would give them a 3-game lead.
- Drake has road games at Bradley, and at Illinois State.
- Iowa State needs to find a way to win @Baylor and/or home vs. #13 Kansas State. If they lose both, you can say goodbye to post-season tournaments, including the NIT.
- Iowa has a winnable game at home against Illinois on Wednesday.
- National signing day is Wednesday. We'll hear from both Kirk Ferentz, and Paul Rhoads.
- The ISU wrestling program should win its 1000th dual, next sunday, at Arizona St.

I'll be back with more on Monday night.

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

It's Shawn again...

The Panthers continue to find ways to win.  UNI went on the road Saturday and beat a much-improved Missouri State team.  I just hope the Panthers aren't peaking too early.

It was great to see a number of players from Drake's 2008 NCAA tournament team back for the alumni game.  The Bulldogs' magical run is the best story I've covered during my nine-plus years working in television. Adam Emmenecker and Klayton Korver later joined Larry Morgan to call the Drake-Creighton game on Mediacom.  Both were outstanding as color commentators as well.  My seat just got a little warmer.

The Cyclones escape with a one-point home win over Colorado?  It's too easy to pile on, so I'm not even going to touch that one.

To borrow a line from the great lyricist Paula Abdul, the Hawkeyes take two steps forward, then take two steps back. Iowa got flat-out punked by a mediocre Michigan team.  The Hawks didn't hit their first field goal until the game was nearly 10 minutes old.  Todd Lickliter told The Des Moines Register, "If they can't get focused for Illinois (on Wednesday), then they shouldn't have taken the scholarships. We signed up for the Big Ten." That's as blunt as I've ever heard Lickliter.

Does anyone want to play in the Pro Bowl?  The Vikings Bryant McKinnie went AWOL in Miami and was kicked off the team.  How do you get kicked off an all-star team?

Until next time...

Shawn

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Shawn Terrell here...TGIF

Kurt Warner's retirement news conference left me with goose bumps.  I was struck by how at peace he seems with the decision to walk away. Warner didn't win a Super Bowl ring in his final season, but he still goes out on top in my opinion.  I agree with Warner's assessment that he played as well in his final two seasons as he did when he first entered the league back in 1999.  Warner hinted that he may pursue a career as a television analyst down the road, and he'd be a good one.  NBC already has 17 hosts for "Football Night in America."  What's one more?

Cael Sanderson's return to Iowa was mostly uneventful.  The Hawkeyes wiped the mat with the Nittany Lions, winning 29-6.  I can't understand why some try to turn Sanderson into a villian.  It just doesn't fit.  Maybe that's because I got the chance to know Cael on a personal level.  Back in the summer of 2008, I did a story with Sanderson.  He invited me into his Ames home like I was an old friend.  I don't remember much about the story.  What I do remember is how after the interview, Cael and I sat around playing video games and bs-ing for a good two hours.  I was sorry to see him leave Iowa State, but will always wish him the best.

So apparently it's "doppelganger" week on Facebook?  I'm not sure where the term originates, but the idea is to get people to change their profile picture to a celebrity they are often accused of looking like.  Sort of like SoundOFF look-a-like.  Mine is Kevin Bacon, circa "Footloose."  I had a professor in college that was so convinced I looked like Kevin Bacon that she actually had me stand up in front of the class and yell "Everybody let's dance!"  Needless to say, I got an "A."

Until tomorrow...

Shawn

• Danica Patrick won't race in the NASCAR Nationwide series race at Iowa Speedway. Oh well. That's one fewer loss for her. Something tells me she's not famous for her driving.
• Joe Gibbs Racing signs Johnston Junior Brett Moffitt... another sign what a rising star Moffitt is.
• If you tried to take the real Kurt Warner story to a Hollywood producer, they'd tell you to , "Get out of here with that fairy tale. No one will buy that." It all really happened.
• Say what you will about Todd Lickliter's strategy on the court, the care and caution he's shown Anthony Tucker is admirable.
• Mark Phelps says UNI plays Washington Redskins style basketball. He does know the Redskins play football, right?
• I still can't believe Cael Sanderson is the wrestling coach at Penn State. He'll lead the Nittany Lions at Iowa Friday night. Good luck, Cael. You'll need it.
• J.D. Salinger is dead at age 91. It will be hard to notice he's gone. The recluse was the inspiration for James Earl Jones' character Terrence Mann in Field of Dreams. Please enjoy my favorite movie speech:  http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechfieldofdreams.html (scroll down, hit play.)

• It's a Panther state. At least it is in men's basketball. I thought red hot Drake would keep it close, but the Cats threw a bucket of water on the bulldogs and left no doubt about Iowa's best team. UNI is 18 and 2. Impressive... an easy team to like too.
• The Hawkeyes have figured something out. Suddenly they're in every game, and winning a couple. Iowa didn't have the depth to keep #20 Ohio State on the canvas, but the Hawks had them on the ropes all night long.
• Oklahoma played without two key starters, which seemed like a perfect recipe for a much needed Cyclone upset. If ISU had shown up for the first half, the Clones would have won. Nice rally, but too late. Chris Colvin had his coming out party in State's loss.
• Props to the Cyclone women. Another win over a top 20 team for Bill Fennelly and co. ISU should build a statue of this guy.
• It appears Kurt Warner will retire Friday. I'd like to see him keep playing, but he's one NFL player who has a fulfilling life beyond football. He's also had too many concussions. Might be time. When he's go into the Hall of Fame, I hope we see some Barnstormer jerseys in the crowd.
• ESPN fired former Cyclone Paul Shirley for his cold-hearted comments about Haiti. http://www.flipcollective.com/2010/01/26/if-you-rebuild-it-they-will-come-by-paul-shirley/  Ryan in Clive sent in the best of the many emails to soundoff@whotv.com and murphandandy@kxno.com :

Shirley's attempting to apply logic where it doesn't exist. In the initial hours and days after a disaster such as the Haiti earthquake, the only priorities are to save lives, treat the injured, feed the hungry, provide shelter for the homeless and restore order where there is chaos. Period.


Then, and only then, should discussions about rebuilding begin. That's when conventional wisdom should be challenged. There is a time and place for that debate. And it's not now.

The first of our nightly sports updates...

The boss wants this updated nightly by whoever's anchoring. I like this job, so I'm going to do it. Eventually, we'll have to re-brand it because I'm not sure Chris and Shawn want to write under the heading, "Murphy's Law", though as an Irishman, I think they should be proud.

Instead of writing such a long column, we're going to try and pass on a few thoughts from the day prior to the 10 p.m. newscast, though there's no doubt some nights, it will be while Conan's on. Or Jay. Or Jimmy. Or Carson (Is he still on?). Or SNL. Or Andy and me.

Let's get started.

• USA Today ranks Ames #4 in the nation. Think about that. There's no real way to know if Ames is that good, but the Little Cyclones have sure looked it. Any team with Harrison Barnes is going to be good, but he's surrounded by talented players. It's a real team.
• Iowa basketball players are feeling good. They should feel good. They beat the snot out of Indiana in Bloomington. Wednesday the Hawks host Ohio State and Iowa has about 47 promotions going to try and get you to the game. Are any working? My hunch is football players signing Orange Bowl posters will do the trick.
• Ranking the men's college basketball teams in our state right now, if you go be heat, it's 1) Drake 2) UNI 3) Iowa 4) Iowa State. I expect UNI will cool Drake off Wednesday night. Shawn Terrell will be there.
• It was great to see Seneca Wallace over at Des Moines East today, even if he was sponsored by Visa. Wallace had a good message: save your money. Seneca told Chris Hassel the high school students made him feel old because they don't remember him as a Cyclone, they know him as a Seahawk. Has it really been that long?
• Finally, I linked this column by former Cyclone Paul Shirley on Twitter (keithmurphy13). Paul says he doesn't think he'll give a dollar to Haiti and explains why. The column has upset a lot of people. Though I don't agree with Paul, I know some people do, and I give him credit for being honest. Check it out and let me know what you think.  http://tinyurl.com/y9q42ym

I'll be back tomorrow night.

• Mark McGwire had five years to craft an admission/apology and that's what he came up with? Who's advising him---Bruce Van De Velde? That was terrible crisis management.
• Giving McGwire the benefit of the doubt, I still don't see how he could convince himself that steroids didn't help him hit more home runs. All evidence to the contrary, including his own numbers.
• If you're playing, when you should still be injured, you're cheating.
• McGwire had many regrettable comments, but none more stupid than "I wish I hadn't played in the steroids era". Mark, you were the steroids era. No one forced you to put that crap in your system.
• I realize the cheating was widespread, even understandable, but how can McGwire now teach baseball? He, and hundreds of others, made millions off cheating, and they haven't had to refund a dollar. Meantime, many fringe players who didn't cheat, never made it to the Majors, or had their numbers suffer in comparison to these cheaters.
• Yeah, I'm not over it. I feel retroactively foolish for all that cheering I did in '98. How could we have been so stupid. When you see those highlights now, McGwire and Sosa look like video game cartoons --- nothing natural about it.
• If McGwire thinks he would have hit all those home runs without taking steroids, why did he apologize to the Maris family? Because he knows somewhere deep that 61 is still the real record.
• Don't even get me started on Bonds---worst offender of all. And he can't do a confession or apology, he'll perjur himself and go straight to prison.
• Enough. I'm annoying myself.
• I have been fascinated by the Late Night Talk Show Wars. What a mess. Here's a summary:

NBC execs mismanaged the Leno/Conan landscape from the start (shocking, I know), Leno didn't want to leave #1 show, Conan took over anyway, Leno moved to prime time where most every affiliate in America---we're a notable exception---suffered in late local news; meantime, Conan mostly stopped being funny and refused tips/advice as his numbers plummeted from where Leno's were, Letterman then had sex with most of his staff, got in front of the scandal, awkwardly confessed/apologized on air for being a "creep", and saw his ratings go up. NBC pulled plug on Leno experiment, tried to move Leno to 10:35 for a half hour, Conan wrote a smart, heartfelt, funny letter explaining why he would not move. Leno then looked like the heavy, anger energized Conan into his funniest shows in years, Jimmy Kimmel went on Leno's own show and skewered Leno as Kimmel was noticed for the first time since the video "F---ing Matt Damon" and Letterman relished opportunity to hammer NBC for passing on him for Leno back in the day, and somehow Jay looked worse than Dave, all things considered. Now, Leno gets what he wanted all along, The Tonight Show, Conan gets a vault of cash, potential future show at Fox, and a huge outpouring of support and sympathy, Letterman worries about losing his #1 status now that Jay's back, but Dave knows he helped make Leno look like bully (which, in a way, he is), Kimmel wishes this fight could continue forever, Jimmy Fallon stays silent and hopes The Roots never leave, and Carson Daly remains irrelevent. Now you're caught up.

• You know Iowa's basketball program is having tough times when we're breathlessly reporting about the possible return of Jake Kelly. The part I found most interesting was Kelly considering a return to the University he left a year ago. It was kind of like one of those head-scratchers where a couple meet, fall in love, get married, then divorced, and then re-married... to each other. Shawn Terrell talked to Jake and learned Kelly isn't transferring, though it was clear from the conversation the thought had crossed him mind.
• Congrats to Todd Lickliter and Iowa for knocking off Penn State. That's one more Big Ten win than many predicted.
• As the Register's Randy Peterson noted, when Iowa State needs to end a long, ugly streak, the Cyclones call in their slumpbuster: Nebraska. (If you don't know the original use of the word slumpbuster, proceed with caution to a "slumpbuster" google search.)
• Lane Kiffin makes Gene Chizik look loyal.
• Love this quote from http://www.sportspickle.com/

"Apologies to Kurt Warner and Ray Lewis on being eliminated from the playoffs. My attention has been elsewhere with the whole Haiti thing."
-God

• I love watching Warner when he's in rythym, like he was against Green Bay, but he was beaten up so badly by the Saints, I wonder if it's time to retire. He's had a number of concussions, and played a lot more football than most.
• "Pants on the ground, pants on the ground, lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground". Can't get that stupid earworm out of my head. The real problem is I keep singing it, and I don't even like it. My wife is ready to hit me in the face with a frying pan.
• I'm still trying to get the 85 minutes of my life back I wasted on Paranormal Activity.
• Let the hype begin. Iowa is #5 in Sports Illustrated first college football poll for 2010. Hawks earned it too.

Scattershot Thoughts for December 20th

• A guy in the middle of a passionate bar argument just texted SoundOFF. He and his buddy are arguing whether the Iowa Hawkeyes, without Anthony Tucker, could beat Ames High School. They were serious. That's how bad perception is for Hawkeye basketball right now...
• By the way, I wouldn't mind seeing that game, though I'd still pick Iowa to win. However, the Hawks have no one who could slow Harrison Barnes at all. He could pick his point total.
• This is silly. I'm being sucked in.
• Todd Lickliter is a nice man, but he must feel he can't catch a break. He comes back from serious surgery, coaches Iowa to a win over Drake, and gets woken up in the middle of the night with news his second leading scorer has been arrested (again).
• I want this to work out for Lickliter. We need good guys to succeed whenever possible, but it's getting harder to imagine this turning the corner to Big Ten title contenders anytime soon.
• Meantime, Steve Alford is 12-0 at New Mexico. Alford does well at mid-majors.
• Back to Ames. That Little Cyclone team is really good. No one around here will beat Ames. Harrison Barnes is so dedicated and focused, he won't allow his team to take a night off. That's unusual for a 17 year old. Most of us were checking out the cheerleaders between plays at that age.
• I'm one of those guys who doesn't go to the doctor unless I have a bone showing, but I should have gone sooner with my recent sickness. By the time I got to Mercy, I felt like I was dying. That's just stubborn and stupid.
• The Colts are 14-0, but scare no one. As long as Peyton Manning's the quarterback, they should.
• Andy and I completed the nacho pub crawl with our wives and friends this weekend. We hit a lot of places. Our top 5: 1) The Library 2) Victor's Sports Club 3) Hessen Haus (sausage nachos) 4) Limey's 5) Trophy's
• I don't think I'll be able to eat a nacho for at least a month.
• The Saints and Cowboys were playing during part of the pub crawl. We may be nowhere near Dallas, but we ran into a bar full of Cowboy fans at several stops. No wonder NBC is sticking with Cowboys-Redskins Sunday night.
• Vikings fans, are you concerned? There is no doubt Brett Favre's late season fade continues. He's still good, but he's cooled WAY off.
• Finally saw "Funny People". Like Hancock, it's a movie that starts with promise, and then jumps the tracks to Suckville about halfway through. Funny People has its moments, but it's WAY too long, and strikingly uneven. Disappointment.
• I love year-end lists, and this year is even better because we get decade-end lists too. I buy all those magazines, and a lot of other crap I don't need that they put near check-out because they know I'll grab some of it while waiting in line with my last minute Christmas shopping.
• I went shopping at Target Saturday afternoon. Why? Why would I do that? It was BONKERS.
• Someone just asked me my favorite Christmas movie, and though I want to say something like, "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Christmas Story", I think I enjoy Christmas Vacation more than anything. I know it's stupid, but Clark and Cousin Eddie crack me up. I've also moved the silly but charming, Elf, in to the yearly rotation.
• I love Christmas. How can you not love Christmas?!
• Will the bowl games ever get here? Andy and I are headed to the Orange Bowl, Chris Hassel and Dave Olson are going to the Insight Bowl.

Things I'm Thankful for...

In no particular order, and off the top of my head, a few of the things I'm thankful for:

• Tasty Tacos
• My DVR
• HD
• Having my dad show me all the old haunts in the hometown where he grew up
• Seeing that not much has changed in the Vermont town I grew up
• The Patriots throwback uniforms http://www.projo.com/a/2009/09/16/watson_0916.jpg
• Sheriff Buford T. Justice
• Guys movie night (for guys who like really silly movies)
• "Band of Brothers"
• Guinness at Cooney's Pub
• Wrigley Field, Fenway Park
• The new and improved Kauffman Stadium
• Guys weekend in Milwaukee (or Denver)
• Iowa starting 9-0
• Paul Rhoads replacing The Chiz
• Andy Fales' unique perspective
• Goody's Powder when I have a really bad headache
• My bosses at WHO TV encouraging and supporting a radio show
• The bosses at KXnO asking me to host a radio show (with Andy)
• The passion people in Iowa have for local sports
• Taking kids to a movie that grownups can enjoy too (e.g. "Up")
• Lolo Jones personality (and yes, the looks to match)
• "Ask Gary Dolphin"
• My parents health, and never ending support
• Special Olympics Iowa
• ipod, Blackberry, laptop. What did I do without these?
• Coldplay & Bruce Springsteen live at The Well
• Shawn Terrell's story on the Haluska brothers
• Thanksgiving football, dinner, nap, movie
• Twitter & Facebook. I think.
• An unexpected email or call from an old friend
• The steak sandwich at Noah's Ark
• Nachos at Library
• Sweet potato fries at Jethro's
• J. Benjamins restaurant
• Weekends at Clear Lake. Unless it's -20
• Liking everybody on the anchor desk
• Making sure you and all your friends have Gladiator nicknames (I'm "Old School", my wife is "Smash")
• Vacation in Mexico
• Trip to Florida ("trips" have kids)
• Tailgating with friends at Jack Trice Stadium
• The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown
• The Dan Patrick Show
• Reading the Des Moines Register and USA Today in the morning
• PTI
• The nice guy at Whylies who exchanged my glasses when I picked out welding goggles
• http://www.endless.com/ for great Adidas kicks, shipped overnight for free
• Raccoon Valley Little League
• Sunflower seeds
• Making a new friend, and knowing you'll remain friends for life
• Lip balm
• Pets who are potty trained
• Diet Pepsi, diet Sunkist lemonade, and sugar free energy drinks
• Grace Club for kids at Grace Methodist church
• The Des Moines Playhouse
• The Varsity Theater
• Deck parties with friends
• Tailgating at Iowa Speedway
• Good friends I love and enjoy
• BCS bowls
• Matinee movies
• Reading Entertainment Weekly and Sports Illustrated
• A trip to the book store with time to kill
• Our pleasantly worn Beaverdale home
• The Drake Relays
• Freedom of speech
• People who serve our country
• The proud look on the face of a soldier when you surprise him or her with a simple, "thank you"
• Laughter at work
• The Iowa Cubs at Principal Park, especially on a summer night
• Buc Beer Night at Buccaneer Arena
• The look on my sister's face when she got to hang out with the Dancing with the Stars cast
• People who enjoy their job, or start looking for another job
• Watching kids watch fireworks
• Sitting down for dinner with the family, no matter how busy we all are
• Tabasco sauce on popcorn
• Half Diet Pepsi/half 1% milk
• Saturday Night Live, The Mentalist, 30 Rock, The Office, The Middle, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, 30 for 30, Real Sports, Community, Rescue Me, Sunday Night Football, Friday Night Lights, Glee (I know, I can't believe it either.), and 24
• Val Kilmer in Tombstone
• The album "Van Morrison at the Movies"
• http://www.rottentomatoes.com/
• M&M's mixed with peanuts
• Salsa that's hot, but not tongue damaging hot
• Waiting until after Iowa's final drive at Michigan State to start the Gold Medal Gala
• Having a forum to indulge stream of conciousness
• My wife Jenny's art at Squiggles & Tandem Brick
• When B-Ross hits the DUHHHHHHH sound effect
• Bill Murray comedies
• Cousin Eddie in Christmas Vacation
• The Shawshank Redemption
• Roger Rosenblatt's book, "Rules for Aging"
• Viewers & listeners who make me re-think by using constructive criticism
• The Iowa Barnstormers III
• Hoosiers, The Natural, all the Rockys but V.
• The fact I got that boom boom pow
• And above all else, my wife and kids. Without them, nothing above matters. Except the Tabasco sauce on popcorn. That's good no matter what.

Scattershot Thoughts for November 12th

• My friend, Todd Roland, a former sportscaster and current good guy, was the officer shot in the hand Wednesday night. Get well soon, Todd. We're thinking of you.
• I love Christmas, but I'm not ready in early November. Christmas Carol will have to wait.
• Speaking of Christmas and waiting, not to mention my own hypocrisy from the above sentence, I took the kids to Bass Pro Shops Sunday to see Santa. The wait was four hours! No, we didn't wait. I can't shop for the outdoors that long.
• It's long been believed teenagers can't keep secrets. Meet Harrison Barnes. Mr. Barnes can keep a secret.
• I really like James Vandenberg. He looks like the high school kid who comes by and offers to mow the yard for $20, and his voice breaks like he's too young to be in his second year of college, but he's genuinely engaging without trying too hard. I think he'll play better Saturday than many people expect. Don't underestimate what a game plan designed with his inexperience in mind can do.
• The aforementioned game plan should include Tony Moeaki.
• Our Lincoln (high school) insider, B-Ross, says Adam Robinson is going to do everything he can to take the field in Columbus.
• How does a heavy underdog team with less talent and a back-up quarterback making his first start find a way to win on the road? Watch the Iowa State at Nebraska game.
• The Iowa State football seniors have played for three different head coaches. They deserve a nice send-off Saturday. Bowl eligible would be nice too.
• Best line on the Cyclones this season goes to Ryan in Clive: " Iowa State is a 6-6 team with 2-10 talent."
• I was listening to Jon Miller and Jim Zabel host WHO's radio Sound-Off (and they're a good team), and this one caller said, "and that's all I have to say". She then talked another 10 minutes before another, "and that's all I have to say". Five more minutes. Rinse and repeat.
• It's hard for me to see Bobby Bowden go out this way. He deserves better.
• I hate instant replay. I know once in a great while, video helps get a call right that impacts a game, but I can't stand what it does to the natural rhythms of a game. Now when a player catches a TD pass in the end zone, you don't fully celebrate, you wait for the inevitable replay, the painstaking delay, and the endless speculation about which way the call will go.
• Never trust a receiver who says he caught the ball. How many times does a receiver (or d-back) talk a coach into a challenge when he clearly trapped the ball?
• Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin hosting the Oscars?! I'm in.
• I'm not ready for basketball. Trying, but not ready.
• Killers Live at Royal Albert Hall is a great concert CD (and DVD).
• Did anyone rehabilitate his image more in recent months than A-Rod? Amazing what a little clutch hitting will. Penny Lane didn't hurt either.
• When did Sammy Sosa turn into Powder?
• Can't wait for Colts-Patriots.
• Power to the people! Nice job by Des Moines' Dan Cataldi. He and two friends started an online petition for the Chiefs to cut Larry Johnson before LJ became the Chiefs career rushing leader. 35,000 signatures later, it worked (or at least it didn't hurt).
• Demi Moore is 47? Favorite Demi movies: A Few Good Men, About Last Night, One Crazy Summer, St. Elmo's Fire.
• If Tom Brands is talking, I'm listening.
• My new favorite SoundOFF segment, "Ask Gary Dolphin". Funny.
• James Vandenberg says he's anti-Facebook. Interesting.
• You know what does suck about Facebook... when you request to be someone's friend, and you know that person, and you're not accepted. That sucks! Or at least that's what Andy told me.

Scattershot Thoughts for October 30th

• I wish every Saturday could be like October 24th. I've never seen our state in a better mood. No one should doubt the power of football for positive community spirit.
• Hawkeye fans shouldn't waste time being angry at this TV talking head or that sports talk radio host. Just enjoy the ride. The BCS, flawed as it, almost always sorts itself out.
• Paul Rhoads emotional, raw, real locker room speech to his team generated more positive publicity for Iowa State in one week than the entire two year Gene Chizik era.
• Loved hearing stories from Cyclone and Hawkeye fans about how nervous they were in the final minute last week, and how they celebrated when the clock hit zeroes.
• Lot of debate who deserves national coach of the year more (if the vote took place now): Rhoads or Kirk Ferentz? The right answer is Ferentz. If Iowa State had won at Arrowhead and at Kansas, you could make the case for Rhoads, but since the Cyclones didn't, you can't logically go against a coach who overcame numerous key injuries and led his team to wins at Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State (not to mention, Iowa State).
• I apologize to all the State Fair goers who cast their kernel for Iowa as the state team to win the most games. I thought the answer would be UNI. Right now, I thought wrong.
• How can the Big 12 have a TV contract this bad?! Iowa State has already had three games not televised. It's not 1985.
• Tim McClelland is MLB's best umpire, and a first class guy. Yes, he missed a call or two, the other 99.99% he got right. We just don't see those on an endless loop. Human error is unavoidable in baseball.
• I like the Yankees in 7.
• I haven't seen the Des Moines Bucs this year, though I'm looking forward to it. Are they looking any better?
• My son was home from school with the flu and wanted to watch the latest Indiana Jones movie again. Boy, it sucks even more on a second viewing. The first hour is so promising, fueled in part by nostalgia, but once it turns to aliens and spaceships and too many special effects, it loses its way, and can't even recover with a nice ending.
• Upset of the movie year: the rave reviews for Michael Jackson's, "This Is It".
• My wife wants to see Paranormal Activity. One of our photojournalists, Travis Jungling, tells me it scared the living crap out of him. He's no Hassel either. He's a man's man.
• I'm reading "Blind Side" because Jenny wants to see the movie with Sandra Bullock. When you're wife wants to see a sports movie, you celebrate. The book, so far, is terrific.
• New TV shows I've added to the DVR: The Middle, Community, Parks & Recreation (greatly improved, and needed to be), The Good Wife, NCIS LA, Glee (sue me) and Trauma (but not for much longer). What am I missing?
• Let me know if you hear anything about Brett Favre this weekend.
• Andy and I enter the weekend without a costume decision for Halloween SoundOFF. Once you've been Basedow, it's all downhill.
• New SoundOFF feature starts this week: "Ask Gary Dolphin". Mail your questions on any subject to soundoff@whotv.com Dolph will answer them weekly. Well, I think it's Dolph. Maybe not.

Scattershot Thoughts for October 19th

• The Denver Broncos should never, ever wear those poop brown throwback uniforms again. It's not just that they recall the Padres at their Taco Bell worst, no one remembers the Broncos in these. If you're going back in time, pick out some of the sweet Orange Crush era uniforms. (Props to Southeast Polk's Kyle Orton on leading Denver to an unfathomable 6-0 start.)
• Powder blue shouldn't work, but gosh it sure does on the Chargers.
• The Patriots in the throwbacks, hanging 59 in the snow on the Titans, is a postcard. You just can't beat that Patriot snapping a football on the helmet. As for the Titans, it's too confusing and painful when they wear Oiler uniforms. It's also painful and confusing when the Titans quit trying in the second quarter.
• A good friend of mine called me from Metallica Thursday night, and the Wiggles Saturday night. Only parents understand.
• I just can't get into this baseball post-season. I'm trying, but I just don't have a rooting interest. I do like Kate Hudson though, and she's on TV more than anyone.
• Is there a sadder commentary on the relentless pursuit of fame than "Balloon Boy"? Is there any way to blame this on Jon & Kate?
• I work at an NBC station, and I like Faith Hill's "Waitin' all day for Sunday night", though surprisingly, I prefer Pink's year one version. I digress. No one jump starts a sporting event like Mr. Hank Williams Jr. For decades now, I try to be in front of the TV when Hank shouts, "ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!" It's not new, but that song works. I concede Faith is quite a bit better looking than Hank.
• I still don't think Iowa goes 12-0, but I see nothing worse than 10-2, and 11-1 most likely of all. 10, 11, 12... whatever... it ends in a January bowl.
• Hawk fans should enjoy every second. This happens once ever 25 years or so. Don't worry about the loss, enjoy the wins. Ignore the buzzkills. This should be the best of times.
• The Hawkeyes have guts, chemistry, and swagger. There are far more talented teams. Many of those teams have already lost. Can't do better than 7-0.
• Iowa State got a mulligan when Gene Chizik bolted for Auburn. Iowa State is much improved under Paul Rhoads, and for the first time since Dan McCarney left, the players are all in. The Cyclones are a few plays from 6-1, and in future seasons, they'll learn how to win those close games (like Iowa did this year).
• I was wrong. UNI can lose to another division 1AA team. I'm shocked. And the Panthers lost at home in front of a record crowd.
• Nebraska is one of the greatest places on earth to watch a football game. You have to respect the proud history in Lincoln. But my goodness, some of those Husker fans take themselves, and football, WAY too seriously. We've been having some fun with that on SoundOFF. The fans still don't realize we're joking.
• Shawn Johnson's agent has done a masterful job. The celebrity shelf life of an Olympic athlete is typically so short, it borders on cruel. The fact Forbes.com says Shawn is the most liked sports figure in America is a testament to Shawn's appeal (and smart planning). http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/15/shawn-johnson-warner-business-sports-nadal_slide_2.html
• Are any of you forced to watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta? I've made mistakes. This must be payback.
• Jeff Pearlman's latest book, "The Rocket that Fell to Earth", is the mostly fair, almost always fascinating story of Roger Clemens and his blood thirst for immortality. It leaves no doubt Clemens is a serial cheater and liar, though also thoughtful at times.
• I want to see, and don't want to see, Paranormal Activity.
• Jon Miller's www.hawkeyenation.com site is all new, and for the first time all free.

Scattershot Thoughts for October 5th

• As I write this, the ESPN announcers are going over the top on the Legend of Brett Favre, but he's somehow lived up to the hype---if that's even possible. Probably not. Like many of you, I grew sick and tired of Favre's annual diva act, I had Favretigue, but there's no doubt he's good for the NFL, and good for the Vikings. I keep watching.
• Look for the Packers-Vikings game to be the highest rated program in the 30 year history of ESPN.
• I like these old school Vikings uniforms better. They are not quite as Arena-league looking. The Packers are classic (as always). When the helmet matches the pants, you're off to a good start.
• The Favre commercial where he can't make up his mind about buying a TV is funny and smart.
• I'm excited about Michigan at Iowa, but not like I expected last week. I thought Iowa would drill Arkansas State, and Michigan would win at Michigan State, and we'd have the makings of a classic. Instead, it's just a good match-up, not a great one.
• I picked Iowa to go 9-3 and Iowa State 5-7. I think Iowa will exceed my expectations, though if Ricky Stanzi doesn't stop making ugly plays, Iowa will lose three games. Don't forget, that road schedule is brutal. 12-0 is not going to happen.
• No one in Iowa City was excited about playing Arkansas State. Not fans. Not coaches. Obviously not players. However, the Red Wolves found a hole in that Iowa defense other teams will try.
• Bottom line: 5-0. First time under Ferentz. 90% of the teams in the country wish they were 5-0.
• Iowa State fans deserve better. They are so loyal despite years of gut punches, and then they suffer another one Saturday, this one more cruel than most. We all take the PAT for granted, which is what made the high-to-low crash so much harder for Clones fans.
• I said all last week the K-State game was a pivotal one for Iowa State, and I'm not changing views now. I think a win made a bowl possible. Don't see it happening now.
• It's hard to get too excited about UNI games until the playoffs begin. Obviously the Panthers will be there, and they're so good, it's national championship or bust.
• Can anybody beat Dowling Catholic this season?
• It was great to see the old Seinfeld cast on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Not a great show, but had its moments.
• Shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office love to make us squirm, but nothing was more uncomfortable than watching David Letterman confess how sex with staffers led to an extortion attempt. The unsuspecting audience kept laughing because they were waiting for a punch line. Smart of Letterman to get in front of the scandal, but still hard to watch, even harder to turn off.
• This is exactly what I need: The 100 Greatest Hits of YouTube in 4 minutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BudhFVnN2o0
• Andy and I love talking sports movies on SoundOFF and our KXnO radio show weekdays from 2 to 4.

Keith's Top Ten

1 Hoosiers

2 The Natural

3 Rocky

4 Fields of Deams

5 Brian's Song

6 Bull Durham

7 Jerry Maguire

8 Miracle

9 Longest Yard (original)

10 Major League

Andy's Top Ten

1 Hoosiers

2 The Natural

3 Bad News Bears (original)

4 Rocky

5 Big Lebowski(?)

6 Hoop Dreams

7 Bull Durham

8 Major League

9 Dale Earnhardt Story

10 Slap Shot