UNT96

Actually, I would have LOVED to have seen that show. Any show at Bass is great but I bet Huey could bring me back to some good times with his songs.... but I had a date with a "Runaway Jury" tonight and it kicked severe butt even if I didn't agree with the moral of the story in principle (why do they ALWAYS have to change the books when the books kick a$$ already???) Anyways, glad you and D had fun Rick, I wish that NT would get off their keisters and get some good acts like that at the Murch.

You have everything to lose in this game Soonerboy. If we somehow win, it blows your season... if you only win by 20 then you drop 3 or 4 spaces... as for beating us more than that, it won't happen. Last year, every single opponent said the same exact garbage to us that you are saying right now. After every single game (with the exception of one Alabama game) we walked out with our heads held high and the opponents fans scratching their heads. We will get in your head on gameday. You will be thinking, "Come on guys!!! That is North Texas out there!!!" But remember this, anything is possible. You lost to OSU last year... and while I have a lot of respect for OSU, they did get beat by a very bad Louisiana Tech team just a couple of weeks before that. So it is not altogether a crazy idea that we play this game close enough (14 points) that we walk out with a huge moral vistory and your fans are absolutely pissed. It is very possible. Beating you is out of the question in my mind. The refs will never let that happen. We have discovered that over the last 10 years if nothing else. So I would say that beating the spread by 14 points and only losing by 14 would be a huge moral victory and just what the doctor ordered to send us into the Baylor game with the confidence to destroy the inept Bears.

So why has NT had so much trouble putting a winner on the court? In reality, you need about 8 good players with 2 "stars" in order to suceed in the Belt. The Belt is not some power conference, our champ has been knocked out of the first round (fairly easily) for our stay in the league. So why can't we put a winner on the court. Before the Belt we were in an even less powerful league, the Big West, ranked about 10 spots below the Belt yet we couldn't win there either. Before that it was the Southland and we had a few years of moderate success there. So what is the reason? Is it because basketball takes a back seat to football? Is it because of the coaching? We always complain about how we cannot recruit football because of facilities; but the Super Pit is just as good (if not better) than any arena in the state. Ok so that asks "why".. Now I would like to know "how"... What will it take to turn it around? I think we have every facet in place other than players. Do you think we can win with these players?

This guy quits on his college team and then gets a job in the NBA and quits on them. He could have been a contender, instead he will just be a pretender.

Good points by all. The initial reports seemed sketchy at best; but the DA that is prosecuting sounded very convinced on the news tonight. One thing that I have read does discredit her somewhat; there have been reports that this was not a one night stand but rather a few different flings. I wonder if she tried to get any money out of him. That will tell a lot more of the story but probably won't come out until mid-season.. about the time that the Mavs beat the Lakers for the third time with a big asterisk by the score.

Hey, I think I stayed pretty reserved considering how passionately I feel about it!

Youare right, we should just kick them all off campus. Bunch of worthless, good ofr nothing drunks. Get a clue, man. and OPEN YOUR EYES.

first of all, thank you for the article. I don't care what this over sensitive writer says, that is abolutely great of RV to be so proud of the athletic department and to try and instill a sense of pride. We have been lacking this for so long that I will take RV making a couple of bad humour comments over the past any day. The writer walked away with one major thing in his mind; North Texas has a commitment to a winning football team. The boys in the group are going to remember that speech and brag about the school that they are going to. They will make a point of going to football games rather than retreating tio their hometown evry Saturday to relive their High School Glory days. ....And where the boys go will be followed by the girls. It is about time we had someone scream out the pride in the athletic dept, even if he made a couple of off color comments. Knowing RV, I bet he regretted that statement the second that he said it, let's cut the guy a break here, he is working his butt off trying to get this to the next level. We haven't seen this kind of passion since Hayden or maybe Corky, it is welcomed by this fan.

Damn Harry, how come you have to be so negative? lol, great write up, thanks for getting back onto the discussion of futbol.

I have two comments/questions. First, do you know if Gonzo was given a ship for this year? Second, do you really feel comfortable at kicker? I can remember Baz missing exta points late into the season. He had to hit a "long" field goal in the bowl game that was about 40 yards and it barely made it. I think that kickers should never make you sit on the edge of your seat for an extra point and Baz missed as many as he made last year. We were forced to "go for it" in several game situations when a coach wold normally choose to kick for the 3 points. If you go back and listen to the Arizona game, the TCU game, and the South Florida game... all three might have ended up differently if we had a more reliable kicker. I wouldn't be so sure that he was a lock for getting the spot. If a kicker even half way decent is able to show him up in two-a-days than he could easily lose the job.

Well, Kobe admitted it. He cheated on his wife but didn't rape the girl I hate it every time the news says he is up for charges of raping a teenager, she is 19 years old... that is an adult. Her little friend was on Dateline last night and she says there was no doubt in her miod that he assaulted her friend. I freaking hate this crap, she has sex with a star and then cries rape. I hate the Lakers but this isn't basketball, this is basic human emotion and they are dealing with this guy's life here. on the same note, the girl accusing him is trying to make it as a singer in show business, go figure.

I heard the guys on the Ticket talking about it so I checked out ESPN to see if they had anything to back it up and they did, here is the blurb (I think the Ticket guys look on the ESPN team webpage for material as there is almost always an article on ESPN when they are talking about the Mavs): Richie Whitt of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes the Mavs need to acquire more muscle this offseason. With that in mind, Whitt writes in his July 9 article that the team could work out trades for Alonzo Mourning and Jermaine O'Neal, while losing Nick Van Exel in the process. According to the story, the Mavs have two cap exceptions this summer to work a deal with the Heat and/or the Pacers. Whitt writes the Mavericks would consider sending Van Exel and Avery Johnson to the Pacers for O'Neal and Austin Croshere. "There are definitely some interesting sign-and-trade possibilities out there," owner Mark Cuban told the newspaper. NBA Draft: Mavericks Ball in Nellie's court Although he hasn't started negotiations, owner Mark Cuban plans to give Don Nelson what he wants: a contract to coach for the next three seasons, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. "He did a great job," Cuban told the newspaper June 2. "Every year we have improved, and I'm looking forward to that trend continuing with Nellie at the helm." Nelson wouldn't say whether he would accept the three-year offer, remaining true to his original statement that he would rest for two weeks in Maui before he decides his future: "I really don't want to negotiate in the newspaper, but this is good news as far as I'm concerned." Report: Mailman considering Mavs Could these two form a Dynamic Duo in Dallas? Imagine Dirk Nowitzki and Karl Malone playing beside each other. It just might happen. Malone told The Dallas Morning News the Mavericks are one of the leading contenders for his services next season. The free-agent forward, who has spent his 18-year NBA career with the Utah Jazz, is considering joining another team in an attempt to make a last run at a championship. "(The Mavericks) definitely are high on the list," Malone said. "And I don't have a very long list, either." Malone, one of the most durable players in NBA history, has said he would like to play two more seasons. He turns 40 in July. He has 36,374 points in his career, and needs 2,014 to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer.

There are reports on the local radio that a deal could be worked out (in the works right now) that would trade Van Exel for Alonzo Mourning and Jermain Oneal. Karl Malone says that Dallas is his number one choice to finish his career at. I think we should pick up Malone in the offseason through free agency and keep Nick.

I hear that they have Walt on ice, maybe they could move him to the ice that the Duckies play on.

well congrats to the New Jersey Devils. There is finally a reason to brag about being from New Jersey, a great hockey team and a great basketball team. Go Spurs!

I think it is safe to say that these are two very evenly matched teams. The Ducks have been a great Cinderella story this year but their horse and coach are likely to be turned back into a pumpkin with mice tomorrow night. You can also kiss the possibility of any type of long term run goodbye, they will lose 25% of their players because the Ducks will refuse to pay the going rate for them next year... Couple of observations: The finals numbers will go down as the worst television ratings since hockey was picked up by the American Networks. Last Thursday, ABC was beat by both UPN and the WB... along with CBS with the Amazing Race and NBC with a repeat of Friends. I am seeing exactly what you are talking about with New Jersey, nobody really cares about them... if this were the Rangers the numbers would probably be double and they might have been able to edge out a repeat of Sister, Sister or the Hughleys. The Ducks can't even sell out their own arena most of the time, I think that they have had 5 playoff games this year that have fallen short of a sellout. It is really a shame, both teams play very exciting hockey. I think there are about 7 or 8 teams that have to be in the playoffs for the country to care and 2 of them are in Canada. Dallas, Colorado, Detroit, New York... who else? I dunno.. all I know is that the finals will soon be on cable as the networks can't afford them after this year.

Only crushing if you live in New Jersey... which come to think of it is bad enough.

I am guessing that McClendon is the new full time UNT beat writer?

Ok, rub it in.. they got their butts kicked tonight. I don't see the Ducks winning two in a row.

His official excuse is that he previously had been using it for bat practice to give the fans a show and that it just made it's way into his batting routine.

To me this is shocking, Sosa is a great guy and a class act. This really puts a dark cloud over his head for his past achievements and current achievements.

Evil laugh... ha ha ha ha... Ducks overtime win .29 seconds into OT... reminds me of a certain Dallas game. The momentum has officially shifted. I don't think NJ has ever been in the shadow of anyone by the way. That is like saying that the Rockets have been in the shadow of the Mavs.. they are just two different teams. The WEST rules!!!! Go DUCKS!!!! Quack, quack!

They (New Jersey) will probably win it. I find myself cheering for the Ducks because I am a glutton for punishment. For some reason I ALWAYS root for the underdog. It sucks because I rarely see one of my teams that I am cheering for win their championship... well, at least until last year and the Mean Green! I still say that in hockey, it doesn't matter how good you were the year before, or even during the regular season. The playoffs are a whole new season; unlike many other sports. In hockey it is completely normal for a team to get hot and win it all at the 4th, 5th, or even 6th seed. The Ducks have been red hot; but the Devils have clearly cooled them off. The consumate underdog fan in me will be cheering them on all the way though. Half the salary and a name that started out as a joke ina bad Disney movie.... you gotta root for them; they really should not be this far along!

Yep, all Western teams. The Ducks have had a fantastic playoff run and even if they lose out (which they probably will) they have shown they are a top 5 hockey team. So dar it is home ice winners though. I watched the Ducks dismantle the Stars. I watched them dismantle the Red Wings; and those were the two teams most bookies had winning it all. While I agree, New Jersey is a "top" team, I just don't see that they are THE top team. But you never know, they might end up on top. I am not impressed with Ottawa at all, they had about as easy a schedule as you can get, playing less than 50% of their games against teams with sub .500 records.

I can't believe that a West Coater is giving credit to the Eastern conference. We just disagree on who was the best, I don't think that Ottawa could have beat the Red Wings or Dallas in a seven game series. New Jersey is a great hockey team but it doesn't matter what they have done 3 of the last 9 nine years; all that matters is what happens this year. You seem to have the same attitude about The Ducks that a lot of people have about the Mavs; despite having a 60 win season (ties for a league best) and beating two of the best teams in the league in the playoffs. All that matters is how good the team is now, not 9 years ago! I hope people don't continue to look at the Mean Green based on their records from 9 years ago.