Hail to the victors ... those weasel scum.
Yes, it's Michigan week for UNO hockey, the week that breeds more hate than holidays with the in-laws. And why do Maverick fans hate Michigan so much? Because they are good. Because they are cocky. Because they represent all that is powerful and supreme about college sports and they sure as hell let you know about it.
And we hate that at UNO, because we work for everything we get. Michigan is ego-driven, brie-eating, executive suite ticket holding, everything an evil empire boasts. Well, excess ain't rebellion.
As Mavericks, we don't have daddy pay our education, we don't get Mercedes' for graduation presents and we work our Midwestern asses off for everything we earn. It's high time UNO, fans and players alike, show them what exactly a Midwestern beating feels like. But be classy about it. As fans, we don't want to stoop to the M-level.
One thing UNO won't have deal with is the insanely rude student section that the weasels boast at Yost. It may be one of the loudest student sections in the nation, but it's also the most annoying. The kids' mouths are so full of toilet water that even Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson requested they tone it down before
he brought his grandson to a game.
After an opposing player's penalty is when it is the worst. Many fans in the country have a chant. "Skate, skate, skate ..." At UNO, the fans then yell "Sit down, hack!" Michigan students go on a
tirade of four-letter words I'd be embarrassed to spout in front of my fraternity brothers, let alone at a hockey game with 6,000 other people.
Speaking of toilets, a thread on Mavpuck.com, a Maverick hockey fan site, begged the question "Would you rather wear a Maize and Blue hockey sweater or clean all the toilets at the Qwest Center with your tongue?"
So now that we re-visit our old badger friends, er Wolverines of our former conference,we shall treat them like we did the Badgers. Relentless aggression. Pepper spray on the goalie. Kitchen sink in the back of the net, over and over. Wave after wave of talent, speed, power, skill, not to mention the national shutout leader in net. We've won the last three of four. We punked them in their own building and we've already beat the No. 1 team in the nation, twice. Think we're worried about you rodents? This is a brand new UNO. We are Mavericks. Get ready for the cowbell and unleash the fury!
3/21/11
3/17/11
What Would You Do if You Were Given $10,000 and You Could Not Spend A Dime of it on Yourself?
Being St. Patty's Day, a leprechaun comes up to you and gives you a gift. It's $10,000 worth of gold. However there is one stipulation. You cannot spend a dime of this money on yourself or anyone in your family. What would you do with it?
A question like this allows one to ponder life. This money can surely be donated to charity, you think, but $10,000 will only go so far, and there are so many good causes. How could you possibly decide.
For me, I know exactly what I would do. I would start paying back the generosities that were shown to me in my youth. I did things very backwards in the early years of my journey to finally become a man. I cashed a lot of checks that I didn't earn or deserve. I received many gifts from several of the closest people in my life and never once offered anything in return. I think now that I am older, given this opportunity, I would pay back those I am forever in debt to let them know how much their small gestures meant in me becoming the man, husband and father I am today.
Part I
I would start by giving $2,500 to Roger and Patricia Cherry for back rent for the months I spent on their couch, eating their food, and spending too long in their shower. Roger and Patricia knew my situation, but never asked questions. They opened their home to me without me ever asking. Not that I ever did ask, because I was always with their oldest son, and my best friend at the time, Jason. Never once did they ask me to leave, no matter how long I may have overstayed my welcome. Never once did they ask that I pay them for the food I was eating. Never once did I ever feel unwelcome. They treated me as if I was their own. They are truly two of the most genuine people I have ever met and Jason, Justin and Jinae are lucky to have them as parents.
One night at the Cherry's house, I felt in the mood to write. Everyone was asleep, and it was the middle of the night, and the inspiration struck me. I wrote six or seven pages of a story about a man in B.C. times named Prius. Of course I had fallen asleep and left the story on their kitchen table. When I woke up, Roger was at the table reading it. He was on page five or six when I wandered into the kitchen. He finished reading every word of that story and told me one day I was going to write the Great American Novel. To this day, he is the only other person to have read that story. And yes Roger, I still have it, and yes I have begun to write the Great American Novel. Well, about the first six of seven pages of about a dozen of them actually.
One Super Bowl Sunday, all four of us kids were home at the Cherry house, which with all the teenage running around was rare. Roger had just come home carrying treasure wrapped in butcher paper. Patricia was making red beans and rice, corn I think, and some other side things. Roger proudly announced he had gone to the store and bought everyone 2-inch thick cut T-bone steaks, one for everyone. Including me!
Now I have been around the world, eaten at some of the best unknown Italian restaurants in underground London. Had world class meals at Emerils and Binion's in Vegas. Been to some of the finest steak houses in Montana and Omaha. But I will tell anyone who asks "what's the best meal you've ever had" that the steak and rice I had at the Cherry's that Super Bowl Sunday remains the best meal I've ever had. Hell I missed the first half of the game just to finish it right there at their white-tiled kitchen table. If I were ever in a situation that I was given my choice for a last meal, my first call would be to them. That meal was about the food, yes, but it was so much more than that to me. I can't really explain it completely, but the fact that I remember it so vividly and detailed is evidence of the impact it made on me.
I am eternally grateful to them for everything, and this small thank you is long over due, and not nearly enough of a payback.These seemingly small things you did for me out of the kindness of your heart went farther than you can ever imagine in changing the direction of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
And to Jason, who went on to become one of our most honorable men, serving in the Marine Corps ... My brother, some of my favorite nights were spent cruising in your Mustang and Cadillac jamming to 2-Pac and Chicago. Can you imagine, two college guys cruising the streets with Chicago blasting out of the windows, "If you leave me now, you'll take away the biggest part of me ... " Epic!
And to Justin and Jinae, thank your for sharing your home with me. Neither of you complained once and for the brutal honestly that youth brings, I appreciate you for that. Justin, you're a daddy now and you know with my three daughters, it's not a responsibility we take lightly. You're a good man. Jinae, you've grown to be strong and successful so far and I expect nothing less from you.
So thank you guys again. I know I could never fully repay you for everything, but I shall do my best to always pay it forward.
Part II coming shortly to pay more of my $10,000. In conjunction with this series, please visit the Random Acts of Kindness - Omaha Facebook page and tell us who you would like to thank and why.
A question like this allows one to ponder life. This money can surely be donated to charity, you think, but $10,000 will only go so far, and there are so many good causes. How could you possibly decide.
For me, I know exactly what I would do. I would start paying back the generosities that were shown to me in my youth. I did things very backwards in the early years of my journey to finally become a man. I cashed a lot of checks that I didn't earn or deserve. I received many gifts from several of the closest people in my life and never once offered anything in return. I think now that I am older, given this opportunity, I would pay back those I am forever in debt to let them know how much their small gestures meant in me becoming the man, husband and father I am today.
Part I
I would start by giving $2,500 to Roger and Patricia Cherry for back rent for the months I spent on their couch, eating their food, and spending too long in their shower. Roger and Patricia knew my situation, but never asked questions. They opened their home to me without me ever asking. Not that I ever did ask, because I was always with their oldest son, and my best friend at the time, Jason. Never once did they ask me to leave, no matter how long I may have overstayed my welcome. Never once did they ask that I pay them for the food I was eating. Never once did I ever feel unwelcome. They treated me as if I was their own. They are truly two of the most genuine people I have ever met and Jason, Justin and Jinae are lucky to have them as parents.
One night at the Cherry's house, I felt in the mood to write. Everyone was asleep, and it was the middle of the night, and the inspiration struck me. I wrote six or seven pages of a story about a man in B.C. times named Prius. Of course I had fallen asleep and left the story on their kitchen table. When I woke up, Roger was at the table reading it. He was on page five or six when I wandered into the kitchen. He finished reading every word of that story and told me one day I was going to write the Great American Novel. To this day, he is the only other person to have read that story. And yes Roger, I still have it, and yes I have begun to write the Great American Novel. Well, about the first six of seven pages of about a dozen of them actually.
One Super Bowl Sunday, all four of us kids were home at the Cherry house, which with all the teenage running around was rare. Roger had just come home carrying treasure wrapped in butcher paper. Patricia was making red beans and rice, corn I think, and some other side things. Roger proudly announced he had gone to the store and bought everyone 2-inch thick cut T-bone steaks, one for everyone. Including me!
Now I have been around the world, eaten at some of the best unknown Italian restaurants in underground London. Had world class meals at Emerils and Binion's in Vegas. Been to some of the finest steak houses in Montana and Omaha. But I will tell anyone who asks "what's the best meal you've ever had" that the steak and rice I had at the Cherry's that Super Bowl Sunday remains the best meal I've ever had. Hell I missed the first half of the game just to finish it right there at their white-tiled kitchen table. If I were ever in a situation that I was given my choice for a last meal, my first call would be to them. That meal was about the food, yes, but it was so much more than that to me. I can't really explain it completely, but the fact that I remember it so vividly and detailed is evidence of the impact it made on me.
I am eternally grateful to them for everything, and this small thank you is long over due, and not nearly enough of a payback.These seemingly small things you did for me out of the kindness of your heart went farther than you can ever imagine in changing the direction of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
And to Jason, who went on to become one of our most honorable men, serving in the Marine Corps ... My brother, some of my favorite nights were spent cruising in your Mustang and Cadillac jamming to 2-Pac and Chicago. Can you imagine, two college guys cruising the streets with Chicago blasting out of the windows, "If you leave me now, you'll take away the biggest part of me ... " Epic!
And to Justin and Jinae, thank your for sharing your home with me. Neither of you complained once and for the brutal honestly that youth brings, I appreciate you for that. Justin, you're a daddy now and you know with my three daughters, it's not a responsibility we take lightly. You're a good man. Jinae, you've grown to be strong and successful so far and I expect nothing less from you.
So thank you guys again. I know I could never fully repay you for everything, but I shall do my best to always pay it forward.
Part II coming shortly to pay more of my $10,000. In conjunction with this series, please visit the Random Acts of Kindness - Omaha Facebook page and tell us who you would like to thank and why.
3/15/11
UNO Dropping the Ball on Division-I Move
I spent a lot of my college career on Caniglia Field on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I saw dozens of football games over five years there. I saw Adam Wright break the school single-game rushing record. I saw nearly a half dozen future professionals before they signed contracts. I saw Kenny and Taiwo Onatolu TKO their way through another season. Truly great memories and things I'll never forget.
Now ask me how many wrestling meets I attended. One. A Kaufman-Brand tournament because my staff writer and brother, Parker Adair made me go.
And now our alma mater has decided that they are going to drop these two programs so they can better align with the Division-I conference they are planning to join, and of course to save money. So why am I about to write an article begging the powers that be to keep the latter, and not the former? To stay with a "niche" sport and not a campus stalwart like football?
Allow me to explain. A disclaimer before the meat. I don't know what sports at UNO, if any, make money. I don't know how much, in raw real numbers, each cost. I don't know the details of the deal Athletics Director Trev Alberts made with the Summit League, but the Mavericks future potential situation is not unprecedented by any means. They aren't going to play hockey in the Summit Conference, they certainly wouldn't have to wrestle there or play football there.
Nothing marked the beginning of football season better than the UNO football team playing that opening game on Thursday night against Nebraska-Kearney when nearly 10,000 people would attend. But outside of that game, on that night, UNO football could never and can never get out of the juggernaut shadow that is the Huskers. For the rest of the season they would struggle to get a couple thousand people on a Saturday afternoon to play Pittsburg State or whatever random school that was in the MIAA that we never got to know. The only other rival UNO had was Northwest Missouri State, but the problem with that was that rivalries need to go both ways, and the Bearcats owned the Mavericks. The support just isn't where it needs to be.
Football teams require about 100 players (give or take), dozens of scholarships, a insane travel budget, more intensive equipment needs (outside of maybe hockey) than any other sport, not to mention the Title IX nightmare it presents. And if the product isn't having success, isn't drawing fans, isn't making an impact or a difference, isn't a reason other students choose to attend a university, it becomes merely a drain on the school's finances. Sure everyone wants them to stay, but honestly it's not feasible for UNO, not right now, and especially not if the vision of the school is to go Division-I. Trust me when I say that if nobody cares about UNO playing Eastern Washington in D-II, they aren't going to care about playing Indiana State in I-AA. The only argument is that UNO could possibly profit from taking lashings from the Huskers, Hawkeyes, Jayhawks, whatever, but who wants to be "that guy" in college football. And its true that the new Summit League that UNO is rumored to join doesn't have football, but UNO could easily slide into the Missouri Valley Conference (Two former D-II foes of UNO, South Dakota State and North Dakota State now play football in the Mo Val and most other sports in the Summit). All that aside, I understand dropping football and am not really opposed to that move. Its very costly and likely not sustainable at this time.
Speaking of North Dakota State, they are an interesting case study in moving to D-I. They are what UNO should strive to be in all this. They did it without dropping any sports. The Bison play most of their sports in the Summit, but as mentioned before they play football in the Mo Val and wrestling in the Western Wrestling Conference. South Dakota State did the same. And the neither school has a Division-I hockey program to carry the rest of the department. And oh, by the way, the Bison made the NCAA March Madness Tournament in 2008.
The Western Wrestling Conference features both NDSU, SDSU and another familiar face, Northern Colorado. Point is these "niche" sports don't always align comfortably with the flagship conference and for schools with wrestling and hockey and concessions have been made to accommodate.
Yet somehow Nebraska-Omaha can't figure out how to keep a team that has won six of the last eight national titles, including three in a row ... twice. They can't figure out how to keep a team that is the most prepared of all Maverick programs to make the jump. They can't figure out how to keep a team that hosts the Kaufman-Brand Open, the largest wrestling tournament in the country, which features dozens of teams including Division-I powers, over 700 wrestlers and attracts thousands of fans. They can't figure out a way to keep the kids that have brought UNO national success both on the mat and in the classroom. And they want to replace them with soccer and golf? Who's going to celebrate when UNO wins a Summit League soccer title?
If North Dakota State and South Dakota State can pull this off, why can't UNO? Wouldn't it be cool if UNO replaced Nebraska in the Big XII for wrestling? Think its a pipe dream? Look around the country. Tell me who won the Pac-10 wrestling title this year. I'll give you 10 guesses ...
Unless you said Boise State, you lose! Yes, Boise State wrestles, and apparently wins in the Pac-10. And no, they aren't in the Pac-10 for any other sport. Why not these boys, why not these Mavericks. Why not the Mavericks that have won your more than a handful of national championships. Why soccer? Golf? To align with a league that we aren't even in yet?
What has men's soccer done for you, UNO? What does it do for you as a fan? They will get to play Nebraska and Creighton on an even level. Sure, now tell me the last time those programs turned a profit, were self-sustaining. Neither is wrestling, you say. Great point, so why trade the history of one powerhouse that brings national recognition to your school for the unknown and impending mediocrity of another, if they are both going to operate in the red anyway.
Now ask me how many wrestling meets I attended. One. A Kaufman-Brand tournament because my staff writer and brother, Parker Adair made me go.
And now our alma mater has decided that they are going to drop these two programs so they can better align with the Division-I conference they are planning to join, and of course to save money. So why am I about to write an article begging the powers that be to keep the latter, and not the former? To stay with a "niche" sport and not a campus stalwart like football?
Allow me to explain. A disclaimer before the meat. I don't know what sports at UNO, if any, make money. I don't know how much, in raw real numbers, each cost. I don't know the details of the deal Athletics Director Trev Alberts made with the Summit League, but the Mavericks future potential situation is not unprecedented by any means. They aren't going to play hockey in the Summit Conference, they certainly wouldn't have to wrestle there or play football there.
Nothing marked the beginning of football season better than the UNO football team playing that opening game on Thursday night against Nebraska-Kearney when nearly 10,000 people would attend. But outside of that game, on that night, UNO football could never and can never get out of the juggernaut shadow that is the Huskers. For the rest of the season they would struggle to get a couple thousand people on a Saturday afternoon to play Pittsburg State or whatever random school that was in the MIAA that we never got to know. The only other rival UNO had was Northwest Missouri State, but the problem with that was that rivalries need to go both ways, and the Bearcats owned the Mavericks. The support just isn't where it needs to be.
Football teams require about 100 players (give or take), dozens of scholarships, a insane travel budget, more intensive equipment needs (outside of maybe hockey) than any other sport, not to mention the Title IX nightmare it presents. And if the product isn't having success, isn't drawing fans, isn't making an impact or a difference, isn't a reason other students choose to attend a university, it becomes merely a drain on the school's finances. Sure everyone wants them to stay, but honestly it's not feasible for UNO, not right now, and especially not if the vision of the school is to go Division-I. Trust me when I say that if nobody cares about UNO playing Eastern Washington in D-II, they aren't going to care about playing Indiana State in I-AA. The only argument is that UNO could possibly profit from taking lashings from the Huskers, Hawkeyes, Jayhawks, whatever, but who wants to be "that guy" in college football. And its true that the new Summit League that UNO is rumored to join doesn't have football, but UNO could easily slide into the Missouri Valley Conference (Two former D-II foes of UNO, South Dakota State and North Dakota State now play football in the Mo Val and most other sports in the Summit). All that aside, I understand dropping football and am not really opposed to that move. Its very costly and likely not sustainable at this time.
Speaking of North Dakota State, they are an interesting case study in moving to D-I. They are what UNO should strive to be in all this. They did it without dropping any sports. The Bison play most of their sports in the Summit, but as mentioned before they play football in the Mo Val and wrestling in the Western Wrestling Conference. South Dakota State did the same. And the neither school has a Division-I hockey program to carry the rest of the department. And oh, by the way, the Bison made the NCAA March Madness Tournament in 2008.
The Western Wrestling Conference features both NDSU, SDSU and another familiar face, Northern Colorado. Point is these "niche" sports don't always align comfortably with the flagship conference and for schools with wrestling and hockey and concessions have been made to accommodate.
Yet somehow Nebraska-Omaha can't figure out how to keep a team that has won six of the last eight national titles, including three in a row ... twice. They can't figure out how to keep a team that is the most prepared of all Maverick programs to make the jump. They can't figure out how to keep a team that hosts the Kaufman-Brand Open, the largest wrestling tournament in the country, which features dozens of teams including Division-I powers, over 700 wrestlers and attracts thousands of fans. They can't figure out a way to keep the kids that have brought UNO national success both on the mat and in the classroom. And they want to replace them with soccer and golf? Who's going to celebrate when UNO wins a Summit League soccer title?
If North Dakota State and South Dakota State can pull this off, why can't UNO? Wouldn't it be cool if UNO replaced Nebraska in the Big XII for wrestling? Think its a pipe dream? Look around the country. Tell me who won the Pac-10 wrestling title this year. I'll give you 10 guesses ...
Unless you said Boise State, you lose! Yes, Boise State wrestles, and apparently wins in the Pac-10. And no, they aren't in the Pac-10 for any other sport. Why not these boys, why not these Mavericks. Why not the Mavericks that have won your more than a handful of national championships. Why soccer? Golf? To align with a league that we aren't even in yet?
What has men's soccer done for you, UNO? What does it do for you as a fan? They will get to play Nebraska and Creighton on an even level. Sure, now tell me the last time those programs turned a profit, were self-sustaining. Neither is wrestling, you say. Great point, so why trade the history of one powerhouse that brings national recognition to your school for the unknown and impending mediocrity of another, if they are both going to operate in the red anyway.
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