Summer heat has settled in and I have as well...into the house for another summer of absolutely horrible television and trying to keep from melting. That being said, it seems this summer has completely flown by and it almost being August, I thought I would check in on a few scattered subjects.
Michael Jackson died last month. Incredible entertainer, sadly the amazing stage presence and capitvating perfomer had left us long ago. Too many things kept him from the center stage, his plastic surgery, divorces, weird marriages, forced kisses on MTV, lightened skin and of course, the weirdness around children. Offstage, I will not offer any judgement on what kind of father he was, but child molestation charges are very sticky. He should have had someone telling him after the first charges, he never should have been filmed near or around children. I heard his next tour that he died prepping for was going to be amazing but the PYT we showed some serious TLC for went away quite a few years ago.
After only keeping a short eye on this situation with former UNLV president David Ashley, I have to say it smells of Jim Rogers getting sick of his choice and not dancing for him anymore. He got pissed and when Ashley didn't follow along, especially when Rogers bashed his wife, he told the only way he could save his job is to divorce his wife. How much power did they and would his wife have? Rogers chased off Harter, who may not have been the most visible president at the school, but she had a vision and a goal for the school. I don't know if Ashley ever did, or if he did, how well he communicated it. Rogers is supposedly gone now and another stooge has taken his place. Now they are talking about vice provost Smatsrek as the only candidate for the job, I hope the Board of Regents know what they are getting and are satisfied with the result.
Recently, Mike Hamrick stepped down as UNLV AD to take the same job at Marshall. It's hard to argue with the success experienced during his tenure. Whiel the jury is still out about Mike Sanford and the job he has done, it certainly wasn't a bad choice considering who was available and interested at the time. Kyle Whittingham, now at Utah, was a candidate but it wasn't a slam dunk that he would take the job if offered. Lon Kruger walked in the front door and at least Hamrick didn't Cavangaro him and screw it up. As soon as Kruger was interested, he was the only viable candidate. Regarding the other sports, I don't follow close enough to have a opinion either way, but some in the media (Ed Graney and others) tend to think he wasn't visible enough in the community and wasn't effective as a fundraiser. Don't know about that, but he didn't screw up enough to be shown the door necessarily. The landscape is different since Hamrick took over and I hope the new AD is able to raise the money necessary and make the connections to move UNLV to where everybody thinks it should be. Good luck!
I have not had the patience to follow MLB regularly this summer. The Cubs spent the first half of the season hurt and inconsistent. While they have started the second half strong, I think it is fool's gold somewhat in that they have beaten up on bad teams so far. They won't be players in the end, they might as well sell off the old players and reload with younger talent and be in shape to contend after the new owners take over. Not really interested in seeing the Phillies and the Red Sox in the World Series this year. I'll take a pass.
UNLV Football is picked to finish fifth this year. With a new prez and a new AD coming on board, I think Sanford has to really win some games this year. 5-7 won't do it. A bowl game or bust to keep his job, Sanford needs to produce if he wants to stick around to see his pretty good recruits produce. I think they missed the boat by not getting former UNM coach Rocky Long to coach the defense. Lobos fans will be in for a rude awakening this year as they realize how good they truly had it. I will be mildly rooting for San Diego State's defense as Long was a good guy and deserved better from his alma.
Lamar Odom. The Lakers better get him re-signed for next season if they want the chance to repeat. Odom, while inconsistent, gives them the length and versatility and not to mention the matchup nightmare that opponents have a hard time countering. Teams out East are pumping up to combat Dwight Howard, but the Lakers have the athleticism and versatility to counter a center-centered offense. If Odom doesn't come back, you'll see the Lakers take hit, as there is no one left that can help. Artest will help keep them hungry, but Odom keeps them on top.
Very challenging non-conference sched this year for the Runnin' Rebs. Conventional wisdom says it should toughen them up for conference play, but that plan didn't work out so well last year. Of course, I think teams had figured out Kruger's smoke n' mirrors act that worked so well without a center. This year, I am cautiously optimistic and hope they can stay healthy, play together and hopefully, just be more fun to watch this year. Kudos to the athletic department, by the way, for offering a payment plan for this year's season tickets. It shows they are aware of the economy, but that's no reason not to be able to watch the Rebels play.
Saw on the wires that former UNLV running back Dominique Dorsey signed a contract with the Redskins. Hopefully, he can become the next Darren Sproules, an undersized, underused back with the ability to evade big, lumbering defenders diving at his feet. Maybe the coaching staff will be able to give the tools to be successful. Probably not.
That's all for now readers. Maybe more later.
laters
cvz
Rebels by 10
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