Back from Out of Town

Just wanted to get some thoughts off of my chest while I was thinking about them, as I am back in town and will be back in the driver's seat tomorrow on the Friday edition of the show.

1. I am just really saddended by the passing of Indiana University head football coach Terry Hoeppner. The rumblings began (at least the ones I heard) about a month or so ago that it wasn't looking great, but still, no one thought he'd be gone this soon. It's a shame. I hope the players and fans will appreciate what he did for the program by playing hard and attending and cheering at the games respectively.


2. The U of L-UK football game will be on television, I'm fairly certain of that. But it will be on some obscure network and if you don't have a ticket or you don't subscribe to all the "cool" sports networks, you'll probably have to go to a bar. My question: how much will this UP the value of the ticket for the game?


3. Sammy Sosa is a hall of famer, no question. So are Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, and others. There was a steriod era of baseball and other players used it that we don't know about it, some of which are already in the Hall of Fame. So, for about the tenth time I say, they're all IN!


4. Rosie O'Donnell is taking over for Bob Barker on The Price Is Right. Short term, I think it's a great idea. Long term, it'll be terrible, and Rosie won't last more than 18 months. You heard it here first.

It's good to be back. Talk to you guys tomorrow.

Thoughts From Vacation

I've got to be honest folks, I'm DYING not being able to be on the air. I feel like I got a TON to say, and have no platform to say it all right now (which pleases many, yet they continue to listen). But this blog will suffice.

Now, onto some things that are bugging me at the moment:

1. I'M SUNBURNT! It's bad. And I'm scheduled to play some golf in a little while. It could be fairly miserable. I was putting on the sunscreen with some serious regularity. But to no avail... and I'm pissed.

2. Junior varsity place kicker and resident drunk Nasty Nate is BOASTING on my show (without me there, mind you), that he correctly predicted the triefecta in the Preakness Stakes. Wow, Mr. Kicker, what a fabulous prediction. What'd that tri pay? $2.60?

3. Speaking of the Preakness, to the novice horse racing eye (a.k.a. my eye), it appeared as though Street Sense jockey Calvin Borel just wasn't real sure what kind of trip he wanted to take in the Preakness. Borel got the trip of a lifetime in the Derby. But in the Preakness it seemed as though Borel wanted to steer away from the eight other jockeys that know that he likes the rail, and tried to go elsewhere, and it just didn't seem comfortable.

And Street Sense's "other gear" had to show up a little earlier to get back up front, and he fizzled late. Call me critical, but it doesn't seem that Borel is the jockey to lead a dominant horse to a Triple Crown. But I'll say this... Borel is undoubtedly my favorite new jockey. Not a more gracious winner and loser, and he sounds like Dell, the mouse-loving prisoner, from The Green Mile (a fantastic movie).

4. UK fans are calling ESPN.com's Andy Katz a 'hater' today. And I can understand where they're coming from. I don't necessarily agree with them, but I can understand. This after Katz reports that Kentucky is bailing out of the UMass game this year.

Hey, if UK wants to change the schedule, they did it by the rules. That's cool with me. They abided by the contract. UMass can be upset because they lose out on potential money that would've been brought in with the game. I guess UMass should've made the buyout a little higher.

But, I am a bit confused by the fact that Gillispie basically says he's in the dark on this whole mess. I find that SO hard to believe. If you want more home games, that's fine. But, Billy, you are in control of one of the most prestigious programs of the country. Tell us that you have some say in YOUR schedule. PLEASE!

Well, it's time to throw some aloe on this sunburn and then get out the Cleveland 9 1/2-degree driver.

And until I get back, enjoy some of New Albany Tribune/Jeffersonville Evening News sports editor Mike Hutsell's favorite celebrity, 'The Hoff.'