The new Gaslight Anthem album is out. You can listen to it on NPR’s website. Check it out, cause they are an absolutely awesome band. I’ve seen them live twice now. Once at the Beaumont in KC and once in some basement venue in Omaha and both blew my mind.
Happy Wednesday,
Ryan
Glad I waited
Probably good that I didn’t panic and write a post about the Big 12 mess last Friday when I was FURIOUS. Plus the “I’m a Jayhawk” remix can be redacted now. (Except for the Buffs and Huskers part).
So it looks like for now that the Big 12 will live for another day. Dan Beebe was able to convince Texas that the Brinks truck will continue to run from the offices in Dallas to Austin on a regular basis. I should be complaining that Texas once again got a sweet deal. The type of deal that put us in this position to begin with. But at the same time, I don’t know that I can blame Texas for wanting to go where the best money was. Unfortunately, they’re the most popular school in the second most populous state in the country. They have a lot of eyes and ears on them and a lot of Texas oil money to boot. (And probably some Texas instruments money and Livestrong bracelet money). So it’s no shock that they’ll be getting the lion’s share of the revenue from any TV deals. Essentially it’s the same reason I don’t hate the Yankees for spending ridiculous money in a free agency system that allows it. I blame the MLB in general for allowing it. And I blame David Glass for using this system as a crutch so he doesn’t have to increase payroll.
But be warned fellow Big 12 Northerners. This deal is once again built on shaky ground. The same ground that led to the calamities of the past 2 weeks or so. Texas is the power player once again. And while they’re getting most of our money, sometime in the near future they could bolt for a better offer if they so choose. No amount of contract wording can keep Texas in the Big 12 when they know that their departure would destroy the conference. You can’t pay penalties to an organization that no longer exists.
So I extend a half-assed “Thank You” to the Lone Star State. Thank you for keeping the Big 12 intact for now. But I am not so naive as to believe that it was for honorable reasons. It was for money. And that’s the way college athletics works now. In fact, the NCAA should consider removing the C from their name. There’s little room for “Collegiate” in the current sports landscape. So we’re safe for now until the Big 10 makes another move in a year or two. When the South schools can once again wait to be courted like Brett Michaels in his tour bus. That’s just the way it is now. There’s only so much Poison money to go around. And sometimes Brett and Cee Cee have new mansions to buy. (Well, at least they did about 20 years ago).
Now to the former (and one current) members of the Big 12
Nebraska: No one is blaming you for leaving. We all know you’ve been unhappy to be relegated to also-rans for the past 10 years. The Big 10 gives you more money and TV exposure. But don’t forget where your recruits come from. The state of Texas is kind of closed to you from now on. So if you find yourself struggling in your new conference instead of picking apart the Big 12 North, that’s the bed you made. I’m sad to see the longest uninterrupted football series die. But the Huskers destroyed us so often that it’s hardly a rivalry other than geography. But I am sad to see NU throw away its history in a conference it was a founding member of. And I’m not referring to the Big 12. The state of Texas be damned, I still recognize the conference as an extension of the Big 8.
Colorado: Not surprised the stoners of our conference made a paranoid decision. They thought the Big 12 was going down and were afraid Baylor would take their spot in the Pac 10. So they jumped ship and figured the conference would dissolve. Now they’re stuck paying a steep penalty that they can’t afford. I don’t think anyone really cared too much that they left. People in their own state don’t even watch that school.
Missouri: I’m trying to be impartial. But it’s difficult for me. As far back as I can remember, you’ve been talking about leaving for the Big 10 conference. But it’s always been coming from just your side of the equation. Then Jim Delaney releases your name as a possible target and you guys got all excited and started packing your bags. You thought it was inevitable. I don’t know if the Big 10 played you or you were just overzealous to prove to all of us that you weren’t lying all along when you said the Big 10 wanted you. And now I’m reading comments from your fans and administrators that sound to me like whining. It has the air of a woman scorned. Even after the Big 10 invited our neighbor to the North in your stead, you still believed in your hearts that your invitation was simply lost in the mail and arriving soon. And now that your old flame is still around you want to kiss and make up, but still pine for the other guy. So I’m going to put this delicately: Having a good journalism school does not make you academically superior to the Big 12 and better suited for the Big 10. In fact, you’re not the only AAU member institution you know. A lot of us are. And a lot of us are ranked higher than you in publications’ rankings of universities. Namely, my own Alma Mater and ISU just to name a few of your neighbors that are still here. So stop acting like the HS QB is just waiting to break up with the head cheerleader so he can ask you to prom. And for once embrace good news for your school and its rivalries instead of continuing to complain about what “could have been.” Because it wasn’t going to “have been.”
Later,
Ryan.
I’m a Jayhawk Remix
“I’m a Jayhawk”
Talk about the Sooners, the Cowboys and the Buffs,
Talk about the Tiger and his tail,
Talk about the Wildcat, and those Cornhuskin’ boys,
But I’m the bird to make ‘em weep and wail.
‘Cause I’m a Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, Jayhawk
Up at Lawrence on the Kaw
‘Cause I’m a Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, Jayhawk
With a sis-boom, hip hoorah.
Got a beak that’s big enough to twist the Tiger’s tail.
Husk some corn and listen to the Cornhusker’s wail.
‘Cause I’m a Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, Jayhawk,
Riding on a Kansas Gale.
Sorry
Ok. I’ve been absent a lot lately. I’ve actually been working a lot and being a little apathetic with my blog. My sincerest apologies to the three of you that read it. I promise more in the coming weeks as summer sinks in.
Till then,
Ryan
Bastard
Living the adult life in KC as an insurance agent (www.halpinco.com) while still trying to keep some sanity. Things are going well.
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