Z’Blog

Long time Hulman/George family antagonist, Robin Miller, reported today that Tony George has been relieved of his CEO position for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway holding corporation but will continue as CEO of the IRL. In the wake of this eye opener, local Indy stations immediately refuted Miller’s report via a statement released by the IMS that obfuscates the true situation.

Insiders claim that Tony’s sisters and Mom want to put a halt to TG’s rampant 13 year spending spree (a rumored $900million) so there’ll be trust fund money left for the next generation. Ya gotta love a “Dallas” like intercine boardroom squabble that involves the secretive Hulman family, shines a spotlight on the always dull Tony George and purports a major change in the future of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Like him or not, Tony George has been the titular head of the IMS as well as the founder and chief beneficiary of the Indy Racing League for the past 13 years. Controversy has followed George through his break-up of the CART racing league via the founding of the look-alike, Speed Racer IRL racing league which many critics believe has led to the ongoing demise of American Open Wheel Racing.

George’s “My racing league or the highway.” attitude alienated fans, drivers and team owners across the United States as foreign dollars and drivers contradicted George’s claim that American drivers would populate the IRL.

Now that TG’s lost his crown, it’ll be interesting to see the cost-cutting maneuvers by the new powers at the IMS and IRL.

My hope is they somehow find a way to bring the side by side passing back that made IRL such an exciting series…way back when.

Are you sick of all this? Since the demise of one-time pop music star and alleged child molestor, Michael Jackson, the airwaves, blogs, websites and street talk have been filled with syrupy salutes and eulogies to this media made, self-assumed legend’s life & times.

On the evening of his death, Larry King spent 2 hours interviewing a cast of characters who purportedly knew the King of Pop. Corey Feldman, resplendent in his Sgt. Pepper coat, waxed eloquently on the private, intelligent and caring person the Michael Jackson he knew. Corey Feldman?

Since his self-inflicted overdose of painkiller pharmaceuticals, the public has been numbed by gripping details of his death, his funeral plans and endless quotes from the well-knowns, the wanna-bes and used to be personalities who will collectively overuse the word genius when describing Jackson’s contributions to music.

Then there’s the circus atmosphere surrounding Whacko’s Memorial in LA.

Who are these people that can drop everything and head to Los Angeles for a Michael Jackson memorial? Don’t any of them have jobs to work or families to care for? I mean, sure Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will show up for any spectacle that involves an African American celebrity. But what about these poor misquided fans who are crying real tears over the death of a personal idol?

And what’s with this international anguish over a one-time pop singer who’s given the world nothing but pedophile trials, paid off families of violated young boys, dangled his son from a balcony and surfaced with a comic book character face savaged by too many plastic surgeries?

Whacko Jacko went from a bright light in music to a visual freak whose fame had faded and fortune had gone. Here was a man - and let’s remember Jackson was 50 years old when he died - with obvious mental problems. A man desperate for public attention, even when his musical talent no longer held sway over millions.

While respecting the talent behind the incredible Thriller album, I had no use for Michael Jackson as an artist or especially as a person for the past 15 years. Over this time Whacko Jacko shammed a marriage to Elvis Presley’s daughter, had 2 kids by a surrogate mother and somehow finagled a 3rd kid, to be called “Blanket”. Blanket? Try going through the rest of your life with that moniker.

As I feel about heavily tattooed or pierced people, I could get by the plastic surgery, the skin bleaching and the goofy outfits Jackson sported in his last decade or so. But it was Jackson’s child molestation allegations that turned me forever against this freak whose talent had run out and chose to insulate himself in a child-like world…complete with live children doing the insulating. Sorry Jacko, but sleeping with young boys is not right and downright aberrant behavior.

But I do feel sorry for some involved in this circus funeral. Like his 3 young children. I wonder what they thought of having a father figure with no nose who was so drugged up he had to be locked away from them most of the time? I read where Jacko had over 200 songs in a vault that would be his legacy to them. Good.

Hopefully, after the last faux friend delivers a sterling eulogy and the last crying fan has left LA, the Michael Jackson is Dead caravan will fade from the headlines and the world can get back to mourning the loss of real heroes - like the 7 US soldiers who were killed yesterday in Afghanistan.

As for me, I see no reason to mourn the loss of Whacko Jacko any more than I would Farrah Fawcett or Billy Mayes. He was a media creation with a decade blip of popular songs. Today’s Michael Jackson was a pill-popping, young boy abusing, financial train wreck whose self-imposed fame ended up in an encore of self-inflicted death.

As the Indianapolis Motor Speedway celebrates their Centennial, I thought I’d try and put together my 100 best memories from days (and nights) spent watching 40+ years of Indy 500 races and Indianapolis 500 Festival events.

My background is a bit unique in that my aunt retired in 1996 as the Executive Director of the 500 Festival committee for over 30 years, stretching back to the mid-60s. Over that time, I went from teenager to father and had access to many interesting places at the Motor Speedway.

1 - In 1958 (I was 7) my dad took me out to the Speedway to watch the famed Novi practice. The noise the Novi engine made as it screamed down the front straightaway was thundering and a bit scary for a young guy. I was in awe of the whole scene, with the stands in the paddock and Tower Terrace Pagoda casting deep shadows on the late afternoon proceedings. One Novi was driven by Paul Russo. While no relation to my family, my dad somehow got us in back of his pits and introduced us as fellow Russos. Russo had on white driver overalls covered in oil and soot. He unzipped a pocket and pulled out his Camels and a Zippo lighter. Lighting a cigarette (around the gas cans), he spent a few minutes talking with us and comparing family trees. I was forevermore hooked on these brave men and their incredibly fast cars.

2- 1962 was my first race in person. My Dad was a volunteer on some track committee and my Mom and I had seats in the Tower Terrace Pagoda’s 2nd floor. Parnelli Jones was on the pole - the first to average 150mph, Paul Russo (in what would be his last Indy 500) started 14th and my personal favorite, Roger Ward ended up winning. You couldn’t see all that well from the lower floor windows but I recall lots of food and soft drinks (beer for the adults).

3- 1963 - This was the first time I saw Jimmy Clark in action. Driving a rear-engine Lotus, Clark qualified 7th and, only because winner Parnelli Jones’ car leaked oil, finished an astonishing 2nd. Jimmy Clark mesmerized me with his driving - very smooth and assured - as a rookie.

I’ll post more memories as the mood strikes…

I love northern Michigan with its sweeping shoreline, crystal clear lakes and pine forests. But head into the heart of Michigan commerce; Detroit, Lansing, Flint - those are cities hard by the industrial demise. Places where factories choke their skylines, where pot-hole streets pass boarded up storefronts and people have this far away look back to the time when American manufacturing was King.

Into this scenario comes the Michigan State Spartans, back home to Detroit’s suprisingly well set up Ford Field. Coach Tom Izzo’s veteran squad featuring 8 native sons, proceeds to eliminate a supposedly superior UConn team with a combination of sticky man to man defense coupled with heads up shooting when it counted.

In the end the Spartans prevail, sending Coach Calhoun back east to explain away the recruiting scandal that awaits him.

How great for the State of Michigan to pack Ford Field Monday night and cheer on their very own state university.

But this is probably where all the shouting ends as North Carolina followed the Michigan State victory with a door to door thrashing of the befuddled Villanova Wildcats that served notice the Tarheels didn’t show up to this dance with anything less than that elusive championship in mind.

The thing about North Carolina’s roster is that they not only have 3 mega studs in Hansbrough, Ellington and the sterling Lawson, but role players like Green, Fraisor and others come at you in waves, each one capable of scoring inside or out.

Which leaves Michigan State somewhat undermatched at each position.

Here’s why I think North Carolina will steal Cinderella’s pumpkin Monday night.

While the Big East and Big 10 conferences have the bad boy, bangin’ n bumpin’ reputation for hard play, ACC teams have been beating on the Tarheels all season long. So I don’t think Michigan State’s in your face, man to man defense is going to surprise North Carolina all that much; especially with a fast, heady guard like Lawson to direct the offense.

If Michigan State chooses to clog the middle and force North Carolina to shoot from outside they could be buried in a 3pt barrage as any Tarheel is apt to shoot the long ball if he’s open. Remember, UNC feels they can outscore any opponent.

Once Michigan State gets behind by 8 or more, they don’t have the get back into it offense that generates a lot of points in a big hurry. While they rely on their defense to create scoring, I don’t see UNC turning over the ball a bunch.

Final score: North Carolina 84 - Michigan State 72 Lawson scores 28, is named MVP and wins $24,400 at the casinos later that night.

All of us take things for granted from time to time. Take American citizenship, for example. I’m a native born American whose never really given my being a citizen of this great country much second thought. Sure, I’m proud to be an American (but not that crazy about Lee Greenwood’s song) and do think the USA has more to offer a person in freedom of speech, worship, political affiliation and success from nothing than any other country in the world.

But I really hadn’t stood back and appreciated how lucky we 345million Americans really are. That is, until today when my good friend Aiko VonHulsen gave up his Dutch citizenship - the country of his birth - and threw in with the good ol’ USA today at a swearing in ceremony held in a US federal courthouse in Indianapolis.

The gathered soon-to-be US citizens were joined by friends and family in a moving ceremony befitting the seriousness of the occasion. His Honor B. Baker beamed as he gave the oath of citizenship to the 40 or so new Americans.

I’d asked Aiko a while back why he wanted to become an American.

First a bit of background. Aiko and his then new bride moved to the United States from their home in Holland for what they thought would be a stay of a year or so. Aiko’s wife almost immediately dislike the pace and style of American living while Aiko blossomed as an artisan and craftsman; his old world training and artist’s talent in great demand by restorers, decorators and homeowners. 8 months into their marriage and still in the US, Aiko’s wife filed for divorce and she moved back to Holland.

Deciding he like the US more than he loved his now gone wife, Aiko has been living on a small farm in Whitestown, IN for the past six years and holds a green card that would basically allow him to stay here indefinitely. During this time he’s built a fine business and has a noted reputation as a fine carpenter, home artisan, furniture designer and fine artist.

Aiko’s family tree includes an artist mother with a museum of her art in France, a Dutch father who was a well know art dealer and a brother who is the frame master for the Louvre. His family is steeped in European tradition and lore, with knights and merchants, artists and politicians all part of his colorful background.

So why would this guy want to become an American?

“You born Americans don’t see it because it’s the air you’ve breathed all your life.” said Aiko, “You don’t notice the absolute freedom you enjoy in every way. You just take this all for granted and go about your daily routines.”

“But Aiko, it’s not that we don’t like our country. We love being Americans. Many of us are really obnoxious about being Americans.” I countered, “We know it’s the best place to live and work, that’s our national conceit.”

“Exactly! You Americans are conceited but you’re also quite funny about it. You don’t take yourselves as seriously as Europeans.”

There’s one thing we native-born Americans should take seriously and that’s the gift of being brought into this world as a citizen of this darn great country.

Ask Aiko VonHulsen, he gave up his wooden shoes and 4,000 year history to become one of us.

Every year it gets worse for me. Nascar racing, that is. I tuned in for a few laps of the 09 Daytona 500 and realized I couldn’t tell the difference between a Ford or a Chevy unless the camera panned the front logo of the car. Daytona is supposed to be the best race of all in NASCAR. I’m supposed to be thrilled at the sight of 45 cars trundling down a banked straightaway, banging into each other while the announcers scarily predict the “Big One” (crash) is imminent.

Great, a race where accidents are welcomed, where drivers hit each other from behind and it’s termed part of racing.

One of the biggest problems I had with this race is the time it was held. As if to please their west coast fans, the Daytona 500 began at 3:30pm EST. This means the last laps would be run at night. This also meant the race would be rained out due to bad weather that every forecaster predicted would come after sundown. Why not start the race at 1:30 EDT? California fans are used to watching live sports early. They understand they’re 3 hours behind the East Coast. Why don’t the Nascar poobahs?

So, instead of Nascar’s typical bunch up the field for a 10-lap shoot-out finale, fans got a rain-shortened event where the winner was nothing more than the driver in the lead with 25% of the race to go. What a nice reward for all those folks who spent their hard-earned money to come and get soaked in the rain.

How about everybody’s favorite Dale Earnhart Jr. missing his pit stop, then after his 1 lap penalty, smacking fellow drivers out of the way to get back to the lead lap? Yeah, that’s great racing….not.

How about those back-marker drivers who have no possibility of winning - or placing in the Top 10 - but qualify just to get a check to keep their under-funded teams alive. These guys are like extra barriers in a video game. Yeah, that makes sense….not.

How about Tony Stewart’s new team being lionized for such great results so early? Then you find out Smoke’s getting his engines from Rick Hedrick which means any marginal team would leap up in results with these powerplants. Yeah, real fair that one.

If anything, the Daytona 500 solidified my feelings that Nascar racing is a lousy product with non-aerodynamic race cars chugging around in one big conga line until the last 10 laps. Kinda feels like the NBA, where they could give each team 100 points and five minutes to finish the game.

What’s the solution? You got me. As long as there are fans willing to tolerate the monotony of Nascar racing, the series will survive, if not flourish. But it’ll have to do that without me watching another race again this year. I find it all so boring.

Bad racing is bad racing and Nascar’s decaled taxis deliver little excitement after watching them go round and round and round….forever.

DANICA to F1? Bernie Ecclestone eats chauvinist pie!

News this weekend mentions an American Formula One racing team is being organized with plans to compete beginning in the 2010 season. IRL racer (kinda) Danica Patrick was mentioned as a possible choice for team driver. You remember Danica? She’s the lady F1 Emperor for Life, Bernie Ecclestone suggested should stay in the kitchen.

Why any team would think Danica could be competitive in the world’s greatest racing theater is downright stupid. For one, Danica can’t win in the IRL, even though she has arguably the best equipment and crew in the series. For two, Formula 1 drivers are a preening, conceited bunch known for giving a hard time on and off the track to rookies. The idea of a woman driver to this chauvo group is grounds for running her off the road at every opportunity. For three, if a US team were to come back to Formula 1 with Danica, they’ll be laughed off the grid and accused of shameless publicity vs. serious intent. Not the sort of introduction that bodes well for the future of their team.

I welcome a US based Formula 1 team as it may bring the USGP back to the Indy 500 track. But please, make it a team intent on competing and making a mark for US technology and racing expertise. Not another venue for swimsuit photos.

IRL is falling and may not get up…

This year’s IRL season is poised to be the lousiest since Tony George crowned himself King of US Open Wheel racing in 1996. The gap between the Haves and Have Nots is greater than ever before with only a select handful of drivers/teams capable of affording the series and being competitive. Get ready for a season of 16 car grids, bankrupt teams, runaway victories and no national interest.

Great move going to a cable channel I can’t find on my tuner. Versus can promote IRL all they want, but if you can’t find the channel, what’s the use? Kinda like a tree falling over in the forest.

And how about Mr. Dance King, Helio Castroneves, the poster boy for IRL about to become the poster boy for the IRS? Nice try moving those winnings to an off-shore account, Helio. I’m so not convinced you had no knowledge of this. And if you didn’t know about this, where did you think your money really went?

Here’s all you need to know about the pending demise of IRL in two words…Milka Duno. She’s funded by well-known USA hater, Venezuelan President for Life Hugo Chavez, and his CitGo gasoline empire. Petro bucks talk and Tony George has welcomed Milka and her team back for another year of back-marking and driver endangerment as she’s proven to be totally non-competitive.

How about a PPV Texas Cage Match with Milka vs. Danica the night after the Indy 500? Now that would generate some badly needed cash for the IRL. I’ll take Danica in 3 rounds.

One thing you can’t ignore about Tony Dungy is his class. The man is definitely a very classy individual who appears at all times to have his ego in check and his humility on display. This was never more evident than during his emotion-filled farewell press conference where he announced his retirement from the Indianapolis Colts, the NFL and pro football altogether.

Coach Dungy will be sorely missed by the city of Indianapolis as we had him for seven years as a glorious example of winning the right way, an NFL team reaching out to the community, developing players as solid citizens and doing so with a soft-spoken intensity that made you sit up and pay attention.

It’s 7:15am on a bitter cold, wintery January morning, the Sunday before Super Bowl XLI will be won by the Colts in Miami. I am in my local grocery to pick up the NY Times and fresh baked danish rolls. The only customers besides myself are a man with a young girl who’s carefully choosing her pastry. I nod to them and recognize it’s Coach Dungy with his youngest daughter. He says, “It’s a cold morning to be out but she loves to get here early while they’re still hot.”

We walk to the checkout line together and I thank Coach Dungy for all he’s done for Indianapolis and wish him good luck in the (gasp) Super Bowl next week. He smiles and says, “Thank you for supporting our team.”

I had read where the Chicago Bears were already in Miami practicing while Coach Dungy opted to allow the team to spend the weekend at home with their families before traveling to the pre-Super Bowl circus. And here he was in a grocery store with his daughter getting pastries. Not watching film or plotting his offensive strategy for the nth time. Not in a crowded room with all his coaches making last minute play additions. No, Coach Dungy was Dad Dungy that Sunday morning. A happy man with no more important task ahead of him than pleasing his beautiful daughter.

From this time on, I held a special respect for Tony Dungy. More as a man and father, than a mere NFL Super Bowl winning coach. This was a guy who had his priorities straight. A man who walked his walk by shining example all the way to the Hall of Fame fueled by hot pastry with his daughter on a cold January morning.

I re-read my article written exactly a year ago that criticized the “Soft Indy Colts” for their less than sterling performance against the SD Chargers in the playoffs. Guess what? The same criticisms I had last year work again for this year as the Colts came up short in all the “worry areas” - terrible run defense, lousy running game and not even close to special teams coverage.

On one hand, it’s incredible that the Colts have reached the playoffs 10 straight years. Not unbelievable, considering how many teams can make the NFL playoffs every year, but incredible nonetheless.

On the other hand, the Colts have gotten past the 1st playoff game only twice in these past 10 years - which is pretty darn unthinkable when you consider the offensive talent pool they bring to the dance.

So who’s to blame? Or have we Colts fans gotten uber-spoiled by the excellent regular season record year after year?

I’m again on the bandwagon that Coach Dungy is a prime culprit in the Colt’s Atlanta Braves Fold in the Playoffs act.

It’s a fact that Tony Dungy is a soft-spoken, lead by example, good and just Christian man. But then, so was my Uncle Bobby. I can’t help but wonder if the lack of emotion Coach Dungy displays at all times is the right make-up for a NFL head coach.

Does there come a time when a team of NFL players needs a different personality type to re-evaluate the personnel, try new offensive and defensive schemes, include new players and add more fire to their efforts? I think that time has come for the Colts.

As part of the annual ritual, fans, players and the NFL all sit and await whether or not Coach Dungy will anoint the Colts with another season of leadership. But is this leadership a 100% commitment? How can a man have his family in one city, visiting them any chance he gets and profess to being totally focused on the task at hand - leading an NFL football team? This is what conflicts me about him.

On the other hand, I’m more concerned about the already-appointed next Head Coach Caldwell as nobody knows anything about him other than he did a C- job at Wake Forest and has been the most anonymous gonna be head coach in NFL history.

You never reads comments by this Coach, never hear TV announcers talk about him, no camera shots, no newspaper photos. Yet this is the guy that’s going to take over the reins when Coach Dungy finally gives in to his Christian side and leaves the game? You wonder what sort of input this new coach will have with the head office over future draft picks and other personnel moves.

With Bill Polian as official “My Way or the Highway Hard Guy”, the Colts have a history of trying to pluck roses out of the weeds of 4th, 5th…even 8th round draft choices. Polian also stays away from the free agent pool of talent. As long as they keep making the playoffs and folding after 1 game, the chance for a Top 20 draft pick would only come if they traded up. And the Colts don’t trade up or trade off.

For every Melvin Bullitt than pans out for the Colts there are dozens of other no-name draft picks who are kept on the team for no other reason than to fill holes brought on by injury. We saw the result of this philosophy early in the season - a 3/4 record. But I doubt Mr. Polian will change his strips as his penny-pinching, find a bargain ways have no doubt endeared him to Jim Irsay’s ultimate profit from the team’s success.

Now on to other Colts reflections on the past year. I’m tired of Marvin Harrison’s Mr. Silent act. While we should judge a player by his performance on the field, I can’t help but wonder if Marvin’s stoic personality has led as much to his fading numbers as previous injuries have. How sad that Marvin hasn’t created any sort of bond with the city that’s supported him for his whole career. How unfortunate that he’s chosen not to speak to any media or interact with the fans. I guess this is just the kind of person Marvin is, but like anyone else, I can only guess as nobody knows him.

I love Bob Sanders’ style of play. His is the first player jersey I ever purchased. I’ll never forget seeing him for the first time playing and shaking my head in amazement at his kamikaze Bullet Bob tackles.

This being said, I hope the Colts consider trading Bullet Bob this off-season while they can still get something of value for his talent. It’s only a matter of time before Bob’s going to crash into some rock-hard tight end and blow up his body. Nice for him to sacrifice his older years to arthritis, pain and limping. Time for him to be traded.

The sooner the Colts admit to themselves that Tony Ugoh is a bust, the better it’ll be for the future of Peyton Manning. Ugoh always appears to be a step slower than the rest of the offensive line. His mysterious on and off injuries add fuel to the rumor that he’s overwhelmed by the speed and strength of NFL defenses. Go back to the draft on this one, Mr. Polian.

Colts special teams have been and will continue to be the joke of the NFL. Talk about no talent coming and going - when will Colts management do something about this ongoing problem. The Colts allow big run backs. The Colts have nobody who can run it back. There’s a whole lot of yardage being sacrificed both ways every time there’s a kick-off.

OK, that’s it for the 2008 season. Pretty impressive that the Colts went 9-0 the end of the regular season. Pretty typical that the NFL playoff structure put them up against the most dangerous 8-8 team that never should have been in the playoffs to begin with - and make it a home game for the Chargers, too! Ah that’s NFL parity at its lowest.

Next year? I predict the Colts will fall harder at the beginning of the season and not be able to get up in time to save a playoff position. Our offensive line will continue to suffer lots of injuries, the special teams will give up more yardage and points than ever before, Marvin Harrison will come back and score 3 TDs with his new NFL team, the Colts will take back the Edge from the Cardinals for $2,000, Bob Sanders will literally fall apart on a Mach II safety blitz, new Coach Caldwell will continually be ignored by NFL refs who don’t know who he is, Tony Dungy will announce his national evangelical crusade tour - sponsored by Nike and Gatorade and the Lucas Oil stadium roof will get stuck while open during a torrential thunderstorm.

Other than this, the Colts will do just fine in 2009.

What the he** were John McCain’s inner circle thinking when they chose the admittedly nice looking yet questionably qualified Sarah Palin as the best VP candidate the GOP could find in this year’s election??

Already we’ve learned more about Senator Palin’s past exploits than it appears John McCain knew before choosing her. Lemme see, we got the drunken driving charge 22 years ago. Ok, we’ll let that slide - could happen to anyone. Then there’s this violation of ethics controversy on her firing the state’s public safety director - the ex-husband of her sister. Hmmm, sounds like Sarah has it in for the guy. Dontcha think so? Oh, did you read where Sarah was once a member of the Independent Party in Alaska that favored succession from the lower 48 states? Nothing like a little dab of insurrection in a candidate.

I won’t even get into the possible lack of “family values” exhibited by Sarah’s 17 year old, unmarried daughter Bristol’s announcement of her being impregnated by her boyfriend. This bit of news was release on Labor Day. Ah, the irony of that.

At least Bristol’s doing the right thing by marrying that boy. Cause you know her Mom is Pro Life and all.

Throw in the uncovered clips of Senator Palin as a ’80s hair sportscaster breathlessly covering the Iditarod dog race and sprinkle in her former Miss Wallisa, Alaska beauty queen reign and you have the makings of a candidate that shouldn’t be one.

John McCain’s aides swear they did a thorough check of Senator’s Palin’s background. A thorough check? I’m guessing they spent some time on the Alaska government website via Google and never went to Alaska to, you know, ask around? After all, it’s cold up there and Alaska only counts for 1.5% of the total US voting population.

The Democrats had to fall back on their collective butts in a combination of amazement and glee when they heard the news of McCain’s selection.

Remember Tom Eagleton, George McGovern’s VP choice in 1972 who turned out to have a history of mental illness and stepped down from the nomination?

The way this Sarah Palin story is unfolding so quickly and so negatively, she’ll make Eagleton look like a smart choice.

Dayumm McCain…what the H#LL were you thinking. Or were you??

I fully expected the inevitable outcome of last night’s debacle. As projected, IU had no solution for the big Hogs underneath, other than Bassett, Stemler and DJ the Warrior, the Hoosier offense was non-existent and their overall physical posture (heads down, whining, lost looks, etc) showed they weren’t focused on anything more than getting the season over.I was also embarassed by the continued negative comments by the game announcers trashing the IU Athletic Department for hiring Sampson, choosing the wrong interim coach, announcing the search committee this week and indicating that the team had been given up on by the university. That really helps with a new coach search and possible recruits….not.

Eric Gordon should move on to the NBA next year as the reliance of the team on his supposed offensive brilliance was a big factor in their late season slide. Sure he’s a kid and in his final game for IU he epitomized the lost feeling of the whole team. No fire, no play, just going through the motions, looking ahead to the NBA Draft.

Last night, phenom Gordon spent most of the game cutting across the baseline to the weak side corner hoping someone would throw him the ball. I never saw him setting a pick or coming out to help Bassett and Crawford who were being swamped by the Arkansas guards. But his lack of play was just a part of a total Hoosier melt down.

More than anyone, I feel for the proud warrior DJ White a player we’ve watch grow from a gangly Alabama kid into a powerful Big 10 MVP player. As he’s done all season, DJ left it all on the court and made all Hoosier fans proud again he chose to stay and graduate from IU.

What happens next? An off-season filled with intrigue, false hopes and possible long time redemption for a program that deserves better from the AD down. We’ll see an exodus of players, shake-ups throughout, name calling and finger pointing, coaches hoped for, coaches refusing - a true sports drama about to unfold.

Coach Dakich was right with his post-game comments that ”…a lot of things have to occur within IU basketball, and a lot of things will occur within IU basketball, that need to occur here in the springtime. So it’s far from over.” Truer words were never spoken.