Monday, March 28, 2011
From the Bench - Mike Anderson Coming Home
Coming Home Robert Shields You know I’m a dreamerBut my heart’s of goldI had to run away highSo I wouldn’t come home low Whether it’s “Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue, “Coming Home” by Diddy-Dirty Money, or whatever theme song you want to use, the music may be different but the message for Razorback basketball fans is the same: Mike Anderson is returning to Fayetteville after a long nine years of the Razorback basketball program being lost in the desert. It’s the story of the Prodigal Son in reverse. In this story, it was not the son gone astray but the father. The hiring of Mike Anderson was more than just the hiring of a new coach. It is about making things right again after the program was shattered with the Nolan Richardson firing in 2002. Whether Anderson succeeds is still unknown as hiring any new coach was a gamble. But what is known is that it is a step up from the previous nine years of Stan Heath, Dana Altman, and John Pelphrey. You’re getting a known quantity who has proven himself at two programs as a head coach. The fans have missed the fast-paced brand of basketball with high-risk defense made popular for 17 years under Nolan. The fans know and loved it. It is our brand of basketball that we exported to the SEC and beyond. Anderson, though, will not be Nolan. Every Jedi does not turn out to be a clone of his master. Anderson will be his own coach. He had success at UAB and then took over a beleaguered Missouri team and returned them to relevance by doing it his own way. Mike Anderson was the right hire. Despite everything that occurred here with the firing of his mentor, he loves Arkansas and Hog fans love him. In the end, maybe what transpired for Arkansas was the best thing possible other than enduring nine years of bad basketball. Even iron has to go through a blast furnace of hell to come out as steel on the other side. If Anderson would have been hired right after Nolan was fired, it probably would not have worked. Anderson also would have had to face the same thing Stan Heath did in trying to recruit while some among the hierarchy of the University were embroiled in a racial discrimination suit. Although, the case could be made that Nolan probably would not have filed that suit had the UA hired Anderson. Anderson also would have been facing an administration that probably would have been very hostile toward him. Instead, he went away earned his stripes in the NCAA tournament at two schools. He is a better coach now than when he left. He is now steel and Arkansas gets to reap that benefit. He is also employed by a totally different administration. The fact the Missouri media went negative on Anderson tells you a lot. They miss him like a jilted lover. They wanted to keep him. All the Missouri complaining means you got a good coach they wanted to keep. You get heat when others want to keep you. For example, I don’t remember a whole lot of vitriol coming from Kent State. The Anderson era started off right with 5,000 fans showing up for his introduction at Bud Walton Arena. You know it’s a great start when the new coach’s press conference tops the attendance of some games this season. When the local channels all televise the event live, you know it was a big deal. Most importantly, the all-important introductory Hog Call was second nature to Anderson. I give Anderson a 9. For a reference point, on that dame scale Dana Altman scored a zero. If you’re one of the people who are disappointed in this hire, you’re either a Nolan hater that can’t let it go, lack the institutional knowledge to know this was the right hire, or both. It’s time to move on and welcome your new coach. He can only win with your support. Like the motto says for the Rocket 5K (coming up on April 16 so register at rocketalumni.com/race) – yeah it’s tough, get over it. Anderson’s first test though will come quickly as he has to reassemble the great recruiting class put together by Pelphrey. Some rank the class as No. 3 in the nation. I have little doubt he will do fine and will get most of the five to keep their commitment. He also has the task of convincing those who are left that he wants to stay to remain on the roster. The last is not as pressing as the first. Welcome home, Coach Anderson. I’m on my wayJust set me free Home Sweet Home Send your favorite Motley Crue lyrics to fromthebench@yahoo.com. end
Monday, March 21, 2011
From the Bench
It’s Spring Again
Robert Shields
It’s finally here -- the Razorback football team’s much-anticipated spring practice. Apparently, what is evident so far is that Knile Davis has gotten bigger, faster, and stronger just like Steve Austin of “The Six Million Dollar Man,” which seemed like a lot of money when I was a kid. It doesn’t sound like that much money anymore as I buy my lottery ticket to win $200 million.
I digress. Every indication is that the team should be stocked again next year. The offense should be very productive. The kicking game will still be good with Dylan Breeding, Zac Hocker, Joe Adams, and Dennis Johnson all returning. I would not be surprised either if Marquel Wade gets a long look as a punt returner.
Tyler Wilson will be your starting quarterback. I know that I will get some messages from friends and family of the other quarterbacks by making such a statement just as I did when I projected Ryan Mallett as the starter almost two years ago. Wilson will have to manage the high expectations that will be put on the team next year and it’s really all on his shoulders. The hope may even by higher on Wilson this coming season than Mallett last season with so many stars returning. I suspect he will meet the challenge with flying colors.
I do not expect him to be Ryan Mallett, though. There are very few who can throw the ball like Mallett did. If you knew anything as a Razorback fan, you knew that receivers never needed to let up as Mallett was always going to deliver the ball no matter how far down field you got. It was also going to be delivered in quick fashion on a low trajectory. Mallett was never going to under throw the receiver.
Wilson throws a good ball. He is accurate, but his passes more often than not on the deep ball will take a higher trajectory than you have seen the last two years at quarterback. This may be good for your receiving corps or it may be bad. I vote good. Time will tell.
There was one thing you knew for certain as a fan the last two years: When you saw Mallett winding up last year in the pocket, you knew you were seconds away from seeing a touchdown strike. Whether the receivers held on was another matter. The offense will be the same, but I suspect there will be parts of the offense that will excel better under Wilson and parts that you will miss.
The big question mark as it has been for years is the defense. There has been steady improvement each season. But the defense has always been a mixed bag just like last season, and nothing typified the defense more than the two halves of play you saw against Ohio State.
If you want anything from your defense this year, it has to be consistency. You want the defense that played against LSU not Auburn. And you want it each week.
Your team may be building some depth on the defensive line, but you’re still waiting for that unstoppable star. Maybe, he will emerge this season. The secondary will be solid enough for consistent play. The question mark will be depth at the linebacker position. Jerry Franklin and Jerico Nelson are players. The graduation of Anthony Leon will leave a void. Someone new will have to emerge to bolster the defense.
Linebacker is a critical position, to say the least. It’s the quarterback of the defense as he is often the player who calls out the assignments. He’s also the player who has to play clean-up and often the player when the running back gets through the line that has to make a one-on-one tackle to stop the big gain. He’s the player who gets blamed for arm tackling when he is slightly out of position. He’s the guy who gets noticed if he arrives too late on the blitz. He’s the guy on the team who has to be the thumper. His personality has to be partial thug in that he really loves hitting people hard or that has a little bit of a mean streak in him. This description combined with good student and superior athlete makes great ones hard to find.
**
Basketball Coaching Search
You hear all kinds of names being tossed about. I have to like Brad Stevens at Butler. I was even stating that fact before he beat No. 1 seed Pitt. The guy can coach and has beaten really good teams even outside the NCAA tournament. He can obviously also recruit to a school with a servant’s name. Yet, I was surprised when basketball guru Ron Crawford pooh-poohed the idea on the radio when a caller mentioned his name. Crawford’s reason was that he had no connection in Arkansas. Or does that mean Stevens has no connections to Crawford?
By the time this column makes print, a new coach may be named. If the fans are lucky, someone will fall into the job like Bobby Petrino.
I thought about applying for the job myself. I have all those years of experience playing shooting guard for the Holy Souls Wabbits plus I coached and played for the Snowmen intramural team in the HPER building during my time up in Fayetteville, so I have that necessary connection to Arkansas.
Send your coaching suggestions to fromthebench@yahoo.com.
end
Robert Shields
It’s finally here -- the Razorback football team’s much-anticipated spring practice. Apparently, what is evident so far is that Knile Davis has gotten bigger, faster, and stronger just like Steve Austin of “The Six Million Dollar Man,” which seemed like a lot of money when I was a kid. It doesn’t sound like that much money anymore as I buy my lottery ticket to win $200 million.
I digress. Every indication is that the team should be stocked again next year. The offense should be very productive. The kicking game will still be good with Dylan Breeding, Zac Hocker, Joe Adams, and Dennis Johnson all returning. I would not be surprised either if Marquel Wade gets a long look as a punt returner.
Tyler Wilson will be your starting quarterback. I know that I will get some messages from friends and family of the other quarterbacks by making such a statement just as I did when I projected Ryan Mallett as the starter almost two years ago. Wilson will have to manage the high expectations that will be put on the team next year and it’s really all on his shoulders. The hope may even by higher on Wilson this coming season than Mallett last season with so many stars returning. I suspect he will meet the challenge with flying colors.
I do not expect him to be Ryan Mallett, though. There are very few who can throw the ball like Mallett did. If you knew anything as a Razorback fan, you knew that receivers never needed to let up as Mallett was always going to deliver the ball no matter how far down field you got. It was also going to be delivered in quick fashion on a low trajectory. Mallett was never going to under throw the receiver.
Wilson throws a good ball. He is accurate, but his passes more often than not on the deep ball will take a higher trajectory than you have seen the last two years at quarterback. This may be good for your receiving corps or it may be bad. I vote good. Time will tell.
There was one thing you knew for certain as a fan the last two years: When you saw Mallett winding up last year in the pocket, you knew you were seconds away from seeing a touchdown strike. Whether the receivers held on was another matter. The offense will be the same, but I suspect there will be parts of the offense that will excel better under Wilson and parts that you will miss.
The big question mark as it has been for years is the defense. There has been steady improvement each season. But the defense has always been a mixed bag just like last season, and nothing typified the defense more than the two halves of play you saw against Ohio State.
If you want anything from your defense this year, it has to be consistency. You want the defense that played against LSU not Auburn. And you want it each week.
Your team may be building some depth on the defensive line, but you’re still waiting for that unstoppable star. Maybe, he will emerge this season. The secondary will be solid enough for consistent play. The question mark will be depth at the linebacker position. Jerry Franklin and Jerico Nelson are players. The graduation of Anthony Leon will leave a void. Someone new will have to emerge to bolster the defense.
Linebacker is a critical position, to say the least. It’s the quarterback of the defense as he is often the player who calls out the assignments. He’s also the player who has to play clean-up and often the player when the running back gets through the line that has to make a one-on-one tackle to stop the big gain. He’s the player who gets blamed for arm tackling when he is slightly out of position. He’s the guy who gets noticed if he arrives too late on the blitz. He’s the guy on the team who has to be the thumper. His personality has to be partial thug in that he really loves hitting people hard or that has a little bit of a mean streak in him. This description combined with good student and superior athlete makes great ones hard to find.
**
Basketball Coaching Search
You hear all kinds of names being tossed about. I have to like Brad Stevens at Butler. I was even stating that fact before he beat No. 1 seed Pitt. The guy can coach and has beaten really good teams even outside the NCAA tournament. He can obviously also recruit to a school with a servant’s name. Yet, I was surprised when basketball guru Ron Crawford pooh-poohed the idea on the radio when a caller mentioned his name. Crawford’s reason was that he had no connection in Arkansas. Or does that mean Stevens has no connections to Crawford?
By the time this column makes print, a new coach may be named. If the fans are lucky, someone will fall into the job like Bobby Petrino.
I thought about applying for the job myself. I have all those years of experience playing shooting guard for the Holy Souls Wabbits plus I coached and played for the Snowmen intramural team in the HPER building during my time up in Fayetteville, so I have that necessary connection to Arkansas.
Send your coaching suggestions to fromthebench@yahoo.com.
end
Monday, March 14, 2011
Robert Shields - From the Bench
Banality of Evil: Big Money Rules the Game at NCAA Headquarters
Robert Shields
The term “Banality of Evil” was coined by Hannah Arendt. Her premise is that the most harm is done by ordinary people who are not necessarily evil or good. The great horrors occur not because of evil fanatics, but because of the people on the sideline accepting their state, which in their silence leads to acceptance of the evil doer’s actions. I would be remiss not to mention that the classic example is the Holocaust.
I will come back to this concept a little bit later as I will apply it to sports.
In this writer’s opinion, a sea change in the culture of how things operate in college sports took place this past season and in particular with football. The shift was tectonic.
Two events are especially worth mentioning, and both affected the Arkansas Razorbacks as well as other college teams. The Cam Newton events were the first. The NCAA found Newton’s clan in violation of the rules -- in particular, the fact his dad tried to sell his son’s services, which is not debated. This should have led to him being ineligible. He was ruled ineligible by Auburn for essentially one day when the NCAA reinstated him.
The NCAA said it did not come down hard on Cam because he did not know what his father was doing, or at the very least, claimed that he did not know. Many fans have asked why the rule exists and why there is a huge loophole if you do not include members of a potential athlete’s posse for infractions on the athlete’s behalf (such as shopping the athlete).
Without this rule, all any potential athlete would have to do is get someone else to shop them to remain innocent of an NCAA infraction. Many fans also don’t like the idea that if you can just claim deniability that it will also clear you from severe punishment. It’s against the societal norm that ignorance does not excuse you from the law, otherwise I would park illegally all the time.
The other event involved Ohio State. This past week, it has come to light that Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel may have known about his players’ NCAA violations since last April. As a Razorback fan, you are well aware of the “Tat 5” who got to play against your Hogs and were instrumental in helping the Buckeyes win the Allstate Sugar Bowl. What makes this all the more egregious is that Tressell in my estimation blackmailed his players to come back next season because he said if they were not going to come back then they would be suspended for the Sugar Bowl.
News flash: Since he knew since April, they should have been suspended for the Sugar Bowl and the regular season. For the NCAA and Ohio State to delay to next year again is against societal norm. Justice delayed is justice denied. The Ohio State and the NCAA knew before the Sugar Bowl at the very least. When you are convicted of a crime, you don’t get to go home until some later date for punishment. It’s immediate. The judge usually orders you to be taken away.
You can make a pretty good case for a conspiracy theory that all these infractions were allowed to slide because they involved big-money games and big-money teams at the time.
Regardless, by perception alone, the NCAA has created a culture that money rules the game. You can break the rules and be lightly penalized if you’re in the spotlight. I am sure it’s being discussed clandestinely at some schools right now how they can use this new culture to push it to the limit to help the school’s athletic program -- not only to get an advantage, but to remain competitive. The new standard has been set. If speeding is not enforced, more will drive faster.
So back to the original premise. NCAA football is at its zenith right now with television viewership and attendance. Many schools have expanded their capacities. And it appears now nobody is going to stop the gravy train. Bad actors will probably increase. So right now, I postulate that a Banality of Evil exists in the sport. Nobody will question how things are being handled and silence will rule.
And here it comes to you; most fans will remain silent and accept this culture change. They will buy their tickets, watch the games on television, and be happy as a clam because it does not affect them. It’s someone else’s problem.
So here, I pose the question to you. Will you be a part of the Banality of Evil in college sports, or will you take action?
**
In other news, Razorback basketball coach John Pelphrey was fired. There was a time when he seemed like the answer. He had beaten Indiana in the NCAA tournament and beaten top 10 teams in Texas and Oklahoma. Then his teams never seemed to matter anymore. If nothing else, he should be remembered as the coach who came when no one else wanted the job. One coach had been hired and left the day after he arrived not liking what he was inheriting. If the Hogs hire a good coach, Pelphrey should at least be remembered for returning the program to a level in which someone else was willing to come.
Send your coaching suggestions to fromthebench@yahoo.com.
end
Robert Shields
The term “Banality of Evil” was coined by Hannah Arendt. Her premise is that the most harm is done by ordinary people who are not necessarily evil or good. The great horrors occur not because of evil fanatics, but because of the people on the sideline accepting their state, which in their silence leads to acceptance of the evil doer’s actions. I would be remiss not to mention that the classic example is the Holocaust.
I will come back to this concept a little bit later as I will apply it to sports.
In this writer’s opinion, a sea change in the culture of how things operate in college sports took place this past season and in particular with football. The shift was tectonic.
Two events are especially worth mentioning, and both affected the Arkansas Razorbacks as well as other college teams. The Cam Newton events were the first. The NCAA found Newton’s clan in violation of the rules -- in particular, the fact his dad tried to sell his son’s services, which is not debated. This should have led to him being ineligible. He was ruled ineligible by Auburn for essentially one day when the NCAA reinstated him.
The NCAA said it did not come down hard on Cam because he did not know what his father was doing, or at the very least, claimed that he did not know. Many fans have asked why the rule exists and why there is a huge loophole if you do not include members of a potential athlete’s posse for infractions on the athlete’s behalf (such as shopping the athlete).
Without this rule, all any potential athlete would have to do is get someone else to shop them to remain innocent of an NCAA infraction. Many fans also don’t like the idea that if you can just claim deniability that it will also clear you from severe punishment. It’s against the societal norm that ignorance does not excuse you from the law, otherwise I would park illegally all the time.
The other event involved Ohio State. This past week, it has come to light that Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel may have known about his players’ NCAA violations since last April. As a Razorback fan, you are well aware of the “Tat 5” who got to play against your Hogs and were instrumental in helping the Buckeyes win the Allstate Sugar Bowl. What makes this all the more egregious is that Tressell in my estimation blackmailed his players to come back next season because he said if they were not going to come back then they would be suspended for the Sugar Bowl.
News flash: Since he knew since April, they should have been suspended for the Sugar Bowl and the regular season. For the NCAA and Ohio State to delay to next year again is against societal norm. Justice delayed is justice denied. The Ohio State and the NCAA knew before the Sugar Bowl at the very least. When you are convicted of a crime, you don’t get to go home until some later date for punishment. It’s immediate. The judge usually orders you to be taken away.
You can make a pretty good case for a conspiracy theory that all these infractions were allowed to slide because they involved big-money games and big-money teams at the time.
Regardless, by perception alone, the NCAA has created a culture that money rules the game. You can break the rules and be lightly penalized if you’re in the spotlight. I am sure it’s being discussed clandestinely at some schools right now how they can use this new culture to push it to the limit to help the school’s athletic program -- not only to get an advantage, but to remain competitive. The new standard has been set. If speeding is not enforced, more will drive faster.
So back to the original premise. NCAA football is at its zenith right now with television viewership and attendance. Many schools have expanded their capacities. And it appears now nobody is going to stop the gravy train. Bad actors will probably increase. So right now, I postulate that a Banality of Evil exists in the sport. Nobody will question how things are being handled and silence will rule.
And here it comes to you; most fans will remain silent and accept this culture change. They will buy their tickets, watch the games on television, and be happy as a clam because it does not affect them. It’s someone else’s problem.
So here, I pose the question to you. Will you be a part of the Banality of Evil in college sports, or will you take action?
**
In other news, Razorback basketball coach John Pelphrey was fired. There was a time when he seemed like the answer. He had beaten Indiana in the NCAA tournament and beaten top 10 teams in Texas and Oklahoma. Then his teams never seemed to matter anymore. If nothing else, he should be remembered as the coach who came when no one else wanted the job. One coach had been hired and left the day after he arrived not liking what he was inheriting. If the Hogs hire a good coach, Pelphrey should at least be remembered for returning the program to a level in which someone else was willing to come.
Send your coaching suggestions to fromthebench@yahoo.com.
end
Monday, March 07, 2011
Marathon column - From the Bench
Loving the Little Rock Marathon for So Many Reasons
Robert Shields
For the first time in eight years, I did not participate in the Little Rock Marathon in anyway except for being an observer. It saddened me. I had setbacks this year in my running, and it’s been difficult to get back. Instead I picked up lame biking. Bikers who I used to curse on the River Trail, I now understand their plight on their level.
I hope to be back to running one day, and my goal is a half-marathon by next year. We will see, but it’s time for me to stop the self-loathing for this column and rehab properly.
I love the marathon on many levels. The biggest reason, though, is getting to see ordinary people do an extraordinary thing for themselves. To many of the marathoners, the goal seemed improbable if not impossible when they embarked on their quest of completing the 26.2 miles (why the extra .2 miles, ancient Greece?).
I witnessed one man crying at the end of his adventure. I was not sure if it was tears of joy or tears of pain. I felt for the runners in the last mile who had to stop because of cramps. You know they wanted nothing more than to run that last mile, but their body had failed them at the end. Yet their will to finish brought them across the finish line against their body’s demand.
The third phase of the marathon is probably the most challenging. You have finished the climb up Kavanaugh hill, and you’re sent out on the River Trail heading west. It’s straight and flat. The wind is ever present along the river in any direction (but at least no bikers to put up with for one day). The crowd, to a great extent, is nonexistent and it tests the mental will of many runners. You finish heading back east down Cantrell to LaHarpe. You have to make a final ascent up a hill at the Dillard’s headquarters. It is a tough climb for that late in the race.
The pacers amaze me. I cannot tell when I might finish within 15 minutes. But one after another, the pacers come in right on time. Not to mention they are carrying a sign with their pace. I hate carrying my watch. The four-hour pacer gets a round of applause for his outfit. He was dressed as the Thriller character, Michael Jackson.
I love the sights of the marathon, like the person along the route dressed as a shark who looked as though he had eaten a runner. I have to give kudos to the woman I saw running in the bikini top. I also saw a Flash, Captain America, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and women dressed as fairies wearing wings.
I saw a man who looked well into his 80s running the full marathon. His bib number was 1871, and my son asked if that was the year he was born. I said no, but he’s running it better than most 18-year-olds could.
There is the jubilation for some runners. A friend of mine ran his first marathon and wanted to be under four hours. He finished in 3:57. He was very happy. He was followed by others sprinting behind him to get under the four-hour mark also.
There are those who finish with an immense sense of accomplishment. At the end of the half-marathon, I saw several women well over 300 pounds finishing it by walking the remaining distance.
Then the race for some is more than just fun. It’s a sense of existence and living. As one runner’s shirt said, “Chemo is over. It’s time to run.”
Well, until I my return to running, it’s time to get back to mowing down little kids and yelling at people with strollers to move over with the rest of the speeding bikers on the River Trail. See you out there.
***
In Razorback news, the basketball team keeps redefining the term lackluster. Football is right around the corner with spring practice. The expectations on Tyler Wilson will be high. Maybe even higher than were on Mallett. I look forward to seeing him practice this spring and getting good e-mails from those close to him.
Send why the .2 miles is tacked onto the end of the marathon to fromthebench@yahoo.com.
end
Robert Shields
For the first time in eight years, I did not participate in the Little Rock Marathon in anyway except for being an observer. It saddened me. I had setbacks this year in my running, and it’s been difficult to get back. Instead I picked up lame biking. Bikers who I used to curse on the River Trail, I now understand their plight on their level.
I hope to be back to running one day, and my goal is a half-marathon by next year. We will see, but it’s time for me to stop the self-loathing for this column and rehab properly.
I love the marathon on many levels. The biggest reason, though, is getting to see ordinary people do an extraordinary thing for themselves. To many of the marathoners, the goal seemed improbable if not impossible when they embarked on their quest of completing the 26.2 miles (why the extra .2 miles, ancient Greece?).
I witnessed one man crying at the end of his adventure. I was not sure if it was tears of joy or tears of pain. I felt for the runners in the last mile who had to stop because of cramps. You know they wanted nothing more than to run that last mile, but their body had failed them at the end. Yet their will to finish brought them across the finish line against their body’s demand.
The third phase of the marathon is probably the most challenging. You have finished the climb up Kavanaugh hill, and you’re sent out on the River Trail heading west. It’s straight and flat. The wind is ever present along the river in any direction (but at least no bikers to put up with for one day). The crowd, to a great extent, is nonexistent and it tests the mental will of many runners. You finish heading back east down Cantrell to LaHarpe. You have to make a final ascent up a hill at the Dillard’s headquarters. It is a tough climb for that late in the race.
The pacers amaze me. I cannot tell when I might finish within 15 minutes. But one after another, the pacers come in right on time. Not to mention they are carrying a sign with their pace. I hate carrying my watch. The four-hour pacer gets a round of applause for his outfit. He was dressed as the Thriller character, Michael Jackson.
I love the sights of the marathon, like the person along the route dressed as a shark who looked as though he had eaten a runner. I have to give kudos to the woman I saw running in the bikini top. I also saw a Flash, Captain America, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and women dressed as fairies wearing wings.
I saw a man who looked well into his 80s running the full marathon. His bib number was 1871, and my son asked if that was the year he was born. I said no, but he’s running it better than most 18-year-olds could.
There is the jubilation for some runners. A friend of mine ran his first marathon and wanted to be under four hours. He finished in 3:57. He was very happy. He was followed by others sprinting behind him to get under the four-hour mark also.
There are those who finish with an immense sense of accomplishment. At the end of the half-marathon, I saw several women well over 300 pounds finishing it by walking the remaining distance.
Then the race for some is more than just fun. It’s a sense of existence and living. As one runner’s shirt said, “Chemo is over. It’s time to run.”
Well, until I my return to running, it’s time to get back to mowing down little kids and yelling at people with strollers to move over with the rest of the speeding bikers on the River Trail. See you out there.
***
In Razorback news, the basketball team keeps redefining the term lackluster. Football is right around the corner with spring practice. The expectations on Tyler Wilson will be high. Maybe even higher than were on Mallett. I look forward to seeing him practice this spring and getting good e-mails from those close to him.
Send why the .2 miles is tacked onto the end of the marathon to fromthebench@yahoo.com.
end
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