August 30

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The kids are back and better than ever. It’s the beauty of education, every year we get a do over.

CKA SAVE Project Update

1. I had the opportunity to visit Washington State again to work with the Lummi Nation School on Building Professional Learning Communities through Organizational Leadership. The workshop was sponsored by the University of Oklahoma Center For Education.

2. We are ready to begin our 2nd year of mentoring students.

3. Our students will begin their first fundraiser of the year next week.

Straight Talk

I feel bad for Stephen Strasburg. The Washington Nationals have tried to protect this kid and he still got injured. He seems like a good kid. I wish the best for him.

Tiger Woods got divorced, I know who cares. 50% of couples get divorced. Good luck to both as they attempted to parent, that’s the issue that’s overlooked.

Manny Ramirez is a joke. He’s not the kind of player I would want with me.

College Football Top 5
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. TCU
4. Va Tech
5. Boise State

I think Boise State will lose early because they are expected to win. I really like TCU this year.

I have my fantasy draft this weekend. My brother has to pick my team because I am out of town. I trust him, that’s my first problem.

NFL preseason notes: The Cardinals have given up on Matt Leinart which is a shame.

I am against an 18 game schedule. That’s too much.

August 3

It is the busy season, the time of the year when academics overlap with athletics in my world. It has been a hectic time over the last four weeks but I am finally glad to have some time to write.  A lot of things have taken place over the past month so let me tackle them in no particular order:

CKA SAVE Project Update

1. Our mentoring program was a success. The students working with us averaged a 5% higher Grade Point average and 10-15% higher Eligibility rate then the general school population. I am looking forward to sharing this data at future conferences and workshops.

2. I enjoyed my visit to Seattle. I had a great time there. The conference was a great opportunity to interact with educators from across the country and around the globe. I got great feedback from the participants in my presentation on Building Professional Learning Communities.

3. We have finished planning our student field trips for the 2010-2011 school year. We are going to New York from April 18-20, 2011 as well as an overnight trip to Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion.

4. Our next Board of Directors meeting is August 7, 2010. Please contact me if you are interested in attending.

5. We are preparing for our second year of mentoring students as well.


Straight Talk

I was wrong about Lebron. I honestly didn’t think he would leave Cleveland. I thought the guilt would be too much. As for him picking Miami I think it’s a good choice. Let’s look at from a couple of different angles:

1. “This is the business and you aint to far gone to know that.” Billy to Prince in Purple Rain. Lebron owes no one. He can take a pay cut and still get his money back because of Florida’s generous tax laws.

2. He doesn’t have to beat his head against the wall like so many other stars: Kevin Garnett in , Minnesota, Allen Iverson and Charles Barkley in Philly, Karl Malone in Utah, and so many more. He is 25 and will be 31-32 when this deal ends which leaves one more big contract. I can’t see Cleveland getting the pieces needed to win titles, so get out now.

3. This generation of athletes respects history but they are ok with not following the historical lead. They play AAU with their friends, they pick colleges because of their friends and now they can pick where they want to work and who they want to work with and people are mad? Get over it. We all do the same. Principals in education bring in their people, same with any other business.

4. Finally, I have to put a wrestling spin on this; this is like Barry Windham joining the 4 Horsemen. Barry was always the next this and that but he never won the big one. He joins up with Ric Flair (DWade), JJ Dillion (Pat Riley) and Tully Blanchard (Chris Bosh) and leaves his longtime friend in Lex Luger (Cleveland). You tube some of those Flair interviews about Barry not having
to feel sorry about wanting the finer things in life, it sounds real similar. I too lazy to post the clips though.

5. All of that being said the TV show was a dumb idea and none of this excuses Lebron from not doing business the right way. He really did screw that up.

6. Speaking of screw ups Dan Gilbert is an idiot. What big name free agent is going to want to go to Cleveland if they treated Lebron that way? That reminds me of how Vince treated Bret Hart even though Lebron didn’t do the time honored tradition (more insider references for Smitty). You always take the high road. Congratulations to Spain for winning the World Cup. I do like soccer, but I can’t watch on a regular basis and refuse to take it seriously with all the bad calls and the flopping.

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger, is he struggling or what? He is doing what he needs to do to get out of this slump and that’s play more golf, it’s just he’s making these corrections in public and not in private. Keep at it my friend, it will turn around, but his days of being dominate are over. The fear factor is gone and they are smelling blood in the water.

John Wall is a ball player, but I don’t trust Demarcus Cousins. He has trouble written all over him.

NFL preseason notes
1. Donovan McNabb will have a great season, but the geriatric backfield will cause the Skins trouble.

2. Albert Haynesworth is a clown, a paid clown, but a clown. I would keep him on the roster and make him play special teams.

3. TO will do well in the Natty.

4. Dallas has choke written all over it. Everything looks too good.

5. The NY Jets also have choke written all over them, remember they were 9-7 last year and made the playoffs on a fumble. Slow down with the Super Bowl talk.

That’s all for now. Be Easy and Stay Flam.

June 12

CKA News

We raised over $2000 with our annual fundraiser. Thank you for all who supported.

We had a fantastic time at Kings Dominion this year. I am hoping to have pictures of the students on the website very soon.

Our next field trip will be in September to New York City and we are tentatively planning to take a Spring Break trip to Florida. Stay tuned.

Straight Talk

The NBA has their draft right. 2 rounds/60 players get them in, get them out. One night only is the way to go.

The Wizards finally got a break. They won’t get a bust this time like Kwame and the new beginning.

Tiger is struggling.

Kobe is good but the Celtics are hanging tough. Rondo is a ball player and should sign a big deal in the near future.

Here is my Lebron take. He’s staying in Cleveland so I won’t waste time and breath speaking on where he will go, it’s a waste of time.

Baseball is boring, but I am looking forward to seeing Stephen Strasburg pitch on a regular basis. I don’t know baseball but I know good.

Please don’t let NY host a Super Bowl without a retractable roof.

On the wrestling front I loved the NXT angle; I hope the writers don’t mess it up.

As for the realignment in College Sports I think Nebraska made a good choice, as well as Colorado. I think that the Big 12 will stay put as well as Notre Dame but Missouri better start apologizing real fast.

USC got off easy; they could have received a TV ban. The reduction of scholarships hurts however they still get to play everyone on TV and be in the debate, the bowl games are not that big a deal in my opinion. They still get to be a renegade program.

BP should pay the people whose businesses have been lost or damaged 5 years of projected earnings and restitution immediately, however, if people accept the upfront payment they cannot receive any settlement benefits from any future legal proceedings.

Gary Coleman passed away and I think something shady happened.

The World Cup has begun and I for one enjoy it. I don’t know soccer but I think the US has a chance to advance to the round of 16. Here are my other teams to look out for:

Argentina
Australia
Germany
Serbia
Japan
Brazil
Spain

That’s all for now, be easy and stay FLAM.

June 2

CKA News

We are more than half way through our annual 30 in 30 Fundraising Campaign and as of today we have raised over $1700 but we still have a ways to go to reach our goal and I hope you can assist us in acquiring sponsors to continue our great work.

One of our supporters is Folarin “Shaq” Campbell Springbrook Class of 2004
· 2x First Team All Met, scored over 1700 points in his career
· George Mason Class of 2008 (Communications Degree) (NCAA Final 4 2006)
· Currently playing Professional Basketball in Europe (Italy and Germany)

“I support the CKA SAVE Project because I believe in Coach Adams. He has always put our academic pursuits ahead of our athletic goals, and it shows in the success his student-athletes have had both on and off the court. I hope you can support CKA SAVE Project as well.”

Your donation will allow us to:
· Reward students who improved their grades throughout the school year with a chance to go to Kings Dominion on Saturday June, 2010.
· Help lower the cost of our New York trip in September. Students will have the opportunity to take a walking tour of Harlem, see the Lion King on Broadway, and eat dinner at Planet Hollywood.
· Sponsoring a Law Club through American University to provide exposure for students interested in working in the legal profession.
· Provide staff development opportunities for teachers to work in Professional Learning Communities.

To continue our good work we are asking you to commit to donating $30 to our organization. You can do this electronically through our website www.ckasaveproject.com, and clicking the donate now button or you can write a check (payable to CKA SAVE Project, Inc.) and mail it to CKA SAVE Project 30 in 30 campaign 1441 Casino Circle Silver Spring, MD 20906.

The CKA SAVE Project is classified as public charity by the IRS thus contributions to our organization are tax deductible under section 170 of the code. Our tax ID # is 26-4740744.

Straight Talk

The NBA has their draft right. 2 rounds/60 players get them in, get them out. One night only is the way to go.

The Wizards finally got a break. They won’t get a bust this time like Kwame and the new beginning.

Tiger is struggling.

Kobe is good.

Here is my Lebron take. He’s staying in Cleveland so I won’t waste time and breath speaking on where he will go, it’s a waste of time.

The Magic played like dogs this entire series. At least the Suns put up a fight.

Baseball is boring, but I am looking forward to seeing Stephen null.

Please don’t let NY host a Super Bowl without a retractable roof.

That’s all for now, be easy and stay FLAM.

May 6:

CKA News

We have begun our annual fundraiser that will run from May 1-31. We are attempting to raise $30,000 in 30 days. We are seeking 1000 $30 donors. I know that the number may be a reach but I am very excited about what we are doing as an organization and look forward to keeping you posted on our progress. If you are interested in assisting us please feel free to click the Donate button on our home page. Thanks.

Straight Talk with the Boss

On behalf of the CKA SAVE Project we send our thoughts and prayers to the families of Brandon Carroll and Yeardly Love who both lost their lives to senseless violence.

I am glad the NCAA has come to their senses and listened to me. 68 Teams is the perfect number of teams for the NCAA tournament. I still believe that it should not be for the automatic qualifiers. If you win your conference tournament you should be in the main show. The play in games should be for the last 4 teams in. I would like the last 8 At Large teams battle it out at the Regional Sites hosting the games and then have them play Friday/Sunday instead of Tuesday/Thursday.

Don’t read too much into the Hawks losing by 40 points, they may lose the series but they won’t get rocked like this every night.

This may be Kobe’s last shot at a ring; he has a lot of miles on those legs. It’s the same with Kevin Garnett and the Spurs, Suns, Mavs, etc.

Next year the NBA will have new, fresh talent and younger vets in new places.

I see Cleveland in the Finals vs. the Lakers.

Good luck to Jason Campbell. The Redskins treated you like crap and you deserve better. There is always a spot for you on the Lewisdale Lions.

Congratulations and good luck to Milan Brown, Mike Rice and Kevin Nickleberry on their new head coaching positions.

That’s all for now. Be easy and Stay Flam.

April 8:

Should the NCAA tournament expand from 65 teams to 96 teams? 

I am a Division 3 college basketball coach who has friends who coach at High Majors, Mid Majors and Low majors as well as Division 2, Division 3 and Juco. I also had a player make it to the Final 4 in one of the best runs ever in the tournament and I do not think the tournament should be expanded beyond adding 3 more play in games for the following reasons:

1. College Basketball has it right. Every year the best teams get in the tournament and they play it out on the court and not in the board room. You earn a National Championship. Even if you play nonconference cupcakes you still have to win the title. We are only talking about 4-6 teams every year who did not make it in. Not 15-20 teams.

2. We already have post season opportunities for 96 teams. It’s called the National Invitational Tournament, which had great fan support for a lot of the games that I watched the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, College Basketball Invitational. I had a chance to watch the Collegeinsider.com tournament up close and personal and the level of energy and excitement the fans had and the level f energy the teams played with was just a notch below the NCAA tournament.

3. This year’s final 4 proves once again that the best teams get in and everyone has a legitimate shot to win. With Butler, West Virginia, Duke, Michigan State you have the power conferences and the Mid Majors represented. We also one bid conferences in the mix as well with Cornell.

4. Regular Season, Improved Scheduling
5. Post Season Tournament perspective from Mid Majors

My suggestions for improving the NCAA Tournament

1. Eliminate Bracketbusters and instead have a showcase weekend of the best teams in each conference.

2. Have teams from Power Conferences improved their non conference scheduling. I like Power rankings and common opponents, that one way you can avoid the cupcake schedule.

3. Have 4 play in games for the right to be the 12th seed. Only at Large teams will be permitted to play in the play in game. I am sick of the SWAC and MEAC being in the play in game. If you win your conference tournament you are in period.

4. After the NCAA tournament teams receive their bids. The NIT gets the next 32 teams with the number 1 seeds hosting pods. Then the CIT.

64 Teams in the NCAA tournament
8 Teams in the play in Games
32 Teams in the NIT
16 Teams in the Collegeinsider.com Tournament
16 Teams in the College Basketball Invitational

That equals 132 Post Season opportunities.

Of course no one will listen to me.

Be Easy and stay FLAM.
 

April 3:

The Road to Wrestlemaina
March 25, 2010-March 30, 2010

Thursday March 25, 2010
What a day. I have been waiting all of my life for this trip and it’s one calamity after the next.

KJ wakes up sick so I have to take him to the doctor’s office. I also have to bring him to school with me, I do like having him with me though, he makes me look good. My wife is also not feeling well. At school we have to finish scheduling for next year and final grades. Scheduling is very difficult because our county is facing a lot of budget cuts. For once Spring Break is at a good time the end of the Marking Period. We are scheduled to pick up the kids at 1:00 and arrive at the airport at 2:00 for a 3:30 flight. Sounds like a plan right? Your Wrong, Your Wrong, Your Wrong (In my best Gary Williams voice). We got bumped by Southwest from our flight and there is no other way to get to Phoenix tonight. I called and went to every airline (even Air Tran) and got, “Sorry we over booked this flight.” “There is nothing available until Saturday.” To top that off it costs me close to $1500 just to get to Phoenix on Friday. Adams Luck strikes again.

Friday March 26, 2010
What a day Part II. My wife wakes up at 3:00am to catch her flight to Jamaica (with KJ and my mother in law) so I have to help get them ready. KJ is still not feeling well (somewhere my sister is laughing because of all the jokes I made about my niece.) I just stayed awake. The boys and I got out of the house around 5:00am to go to Reagan National Airport (Cab ride was $60) I should have woke my Pops up, he’s picking us up from the airport though. No tip for the driver. We have to fly from National Airport to Indianapolis (where I will be next week), then to MPLS (I don’t think Prince is home) then to Phoenix (The Suns play at 7:00, our flight comes in at 7:30.) We get settled in the hotel and pass out. Tomorrow begins our Wrestling experience.

Saturday March 27, 2010
Phoenix has a nice light rail system which is pretty easy to use, but does anyone ever pay? We go to our first session of Wrestlemaina Axxess and man did they do a good job. First of all I paid the extra money for VIP passes so we get to jump every line, except for pictures and autographs, which the boys really enjoyed. During both Axxess sessions we went to today we met Tony Atlas, who was the first wrestler I ever remember on TV talking about the Wild Samoans, we met Shelton Benjamin, we saw Kane, Randy Orton. We also taped ring entrances (I did two of them), we also took several pictures at the different exhibits. The kids had the opportunity to see their first live match from ringside as opposed to the top level seating they have grown accustom to. We also went to the Hall of Fame ceremony, which was a classy event. Outside of the Dodge Theater we saw Sgt. Slaughter, Bobby Heenan, and The Big Show. My favorite all of fame speeches were Antonio Inoki, Wendi Richter, and Ted Dibiase.

Sunday March 28, 2010
Wrestlemaina is today. Axxess this morning was, as the Miz would saw, Awesome. My good friend good ol JR and his wife Jan were there (they both remembered me), The American Dream Dusty Rhodes, Nick Bockwinkle, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Sgt. Slaughter,Gerald Briscoe, Teddy Long, and my brother in law’s favorite Rey Misterio. We go back to the hotel to freshen up and then we take the short drive to Glendale for Wrestlemania. The stadium was packed with over 70,000 fans and the standout match in my opinion was Michales/Taker II. You had electric in the air and the level of respect shown Shawn Michaels was tremendous. The boys had a great time. I will say that both of our phones ran out of battery and we had to get home by memory which was a hoot in itself.

Monday March 29, 2010
The RAW after Wrestlemaina!!! But first a visit Arizona Science Center (Aunt Denise would be proud) the Science center was great. They had all types of exhibits on everything, and it even gave me some field trip ideas for my own students. We then had dinner at the Hard Rock Café, they had no clue about anyone there. We then went to the US Airways Arena which is smaller than the Verizon Center but they had bargain $2 sodas, corndogs, and popcorn. They did a very classy sendoff for Shawn Michaels and began to further some feuds for the summer. I hope the Harts finally get a sustained push.

Tuesday March 30, 2010
We are finally at the airport and I have a long day tomorrow of washing and repacking but it was all worth it. TD tells me all the time to enjoy the moments with the kids because they grow up fast, well I had a ball with them even with the crap from Southwest. Until the next big trip as always Be Easy and Stay FLAM.
 

March 15:

Let the Maddness Begin!!!!!!

Before I get to the NCAA tournament a lot of things have been happening in the news so let’s take some of these topics one by one:

We are down to one Corey. Corey Haim passed away last week in another tragic situation for former child stars.

Betty White is funny. I will watch her on SNL.

There are a lot of natural disasters taking place. I hope we can get through the summer without this continuing.

I need to see the Hurt Locker and Precious.

Congratulations to Ms. Natalie Randolph for being named Head Football Coach of Coolidge High School in Washington, DC. I hope she plays in the Turkey Bowl. (DC folks know what that means)

Tiger Woods is set to return to golf. That is great news, but he should have some type of tune up before the Masters.

I’m not mad at Tory Hunter, he used a poor choice of words, but I understand what he was trying to say. Major League Baseball never came to Hyattsville when I grew up. The NFL had the punt, pass, and kick competition and I remember the NBA fixing up playgrounds so I played football and basketball. I never got into baseball except for Reggie Jackson, Cal Ripken and in college Barry Bonds because my college roommate was a baseball player. My high school only had one black player on the baseball team. However, I don’t MLB thinks its cost efficient to invest money in the inner cities. You need a lot more people to play Baseball than Basketball. I wish them luck though.

NBA News
Top 5 Teams
Cleveland
Lakers
Dallas
Magic
Jazz

I’m glad Gilbert Arenas is changing his number. It gives him a fresh start.

Awards Time:
Being a family member of the All Coach Network and CollegeInsider.com Here are my 2010 award winners

National Coach of the Year: Jim Boeheim Syracuse
Mid Major Coach of the Year: Tony Shaver William and Mary
Women’s Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma UConn
Minority Coach of the Year: Todd Bozeman Morgan State
Player of the year: Evan Turner Ohio State
Freshman of the year: John Wall Kentucky

My Final 4 Picks
Please join members of the CKA SAVE Project Family at our Free Fun Pool (It’s just for fun)

Copy and paste this URL:
http://ckasave.mayhem.cbssports.com/e
Remember to include your group's password:save

The NIT is loaded this year. I have Illinois, Ole Miss, UConn, UNC in the Final 4 with UConn winning it all.

That’s all for now. Be Easy and stay FLAM.

March 4:

Happy Anniversary Mom and Day (44 years) Happy Birthday Mom (I won’t say)

Mother Nature is really mad right now. A lot of natural disasters. I pray for the people involved.

I watched very little of the Winter Olympics. I did see the Hockey Finals. I am in the camp that Hockey live is one of the best sports but it just doesn’t play well on TV. Football is better on TV than live. Wrestling is great live or on TV as is basketball.

My thoughts go out to the whale trainer as well. As someone who went to Sea World as a youngster I really wasn’t that impressed with the Killer Whales, but I hated the circus too. With that being said it is still a tragedy.

Jay Leno is back on the Tonight Show. His ratings may be down early, but he will recover and all will be well, that’s just how it is.

Lakers are getting better, the Cavs are reeling and college is heating up. Kevin Durant is a ball player.

NBA Top 5
1. Lakers
2. Cavs
3. Suns
4. Hawks
5. Jazz

NCAA Top 5
1. Kansas
2. Syracuse
3. Kentucky
4. Kansas State
5. Duke

I have been told to pay attention to K State even though I am not sold. Duke is an interesting team because the ACC has not been a hot topic league.

It’s almost Wrestlemaina time.

That’s all for now.

Be Easy and Stay FLAM.

February 23:

I watched the Tiger Woods statement and let me first let me just say that it is hard to speak in public. My students and players have stumble when they talk to their friends or when they do a presentation, so I do not have a problem with him writing out and then reading his statement. With that being said I thought he did a nice job. He may be the first athlete ever to say he thought he was entitled to all the perks of life. Now that he has spoken I hope everyone can go back to their lives until he comes back to golf. I think he’s going to put a hurting on those golfers who talked about him.

I’m sorry but the winter Olympics is boring to me. I will watch some hockey though.

Tracey McGrady is a NY Knicks; we have tickets to see the Knicks play the Suns Wrestlemania weekend in Phoenix. The Wizards started rebuilding again, but with Gilbert. I think its Cleveland’s year against either Dallas or Denver…sorry Lakers fans.

Quietly Dante Stallworth has returned to the NFL. I wish him well.

American Idol has never really caught my attention sorry.

I love the post season and the tournaments. Good luck to all of the players in their postseason tournaments. This is why you prepare so much.

I need to go to the movies more often.

College Basketball Standings
1. Kansas
2. Kentucky
3. Purdue
4. Syracuse
5. New Mexico


NBA Standings
1. Cleveland
2. Lakers
3. Orlando
4. Denver
5. Dallas

That’s all for now. Just a quick hitter to use a basketball term.

Be Easy and Stay Flam!!!

February 11:

First of all I want to wish a very Happy Birthday to 3 special ladies my soul sister Angela, cousin Nichelle, and the nicest lady in the world Cheryl. They were all born on the same day so it’s easy to remember.

Excuse my French but damn that was a lot of snow. It took me 2 days to dig out of the first snow, another 2days to dig out of the second one. I am tired of movies
(even though I saw the Original Kings of Comedy Again). Get me back to routine.

Well onto the randomness

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints well deserved Super Bowl winners. With that said, don’t hate on Peyton Manning. He through a bad pick but had a lot of drops from his wide outs.

The Super Bowl ads were average at best. I thought Doritos did the best job, but the Betty White commercial was funny too.

Dr. Conrad Murray is going to jail, I don’t know for how long, but it will be hard to plead his case. I just saw “This is it” and had to say that I really miss his talent. I don’t know if he could have done 50 shows, but he still had the juice.

Danica Patrick is good, but you have to win races.

Now that football is officially over, its time to transition to college basketball.

Top 5
1. Syracuse
2. Kansas
3. Kentucky
4. Georgetown
5. Purdue

The Winter Olympics are about to begin, wake me when it’s over.

The NBA All Star Game is this weekend; it is the most fun of all star games. Baseball is the most game like, but the NBA All Star Game has that playground feel to it.

That’s all for now, Be easy and stay FLAM.

January 22:

CKA SAVE Project News
Boomer Sooner!!!!!!

I can’t tell you what a great time I had visiting Norman, OK. I spent 2 days there and had a ball as my daddy would say.

Sunday January 17
How cool is this…I got to watch the Cowboys play a playoff game is Dallas. They loss but I was in Dallas. The only bad part of the trip was dealing with the clown at Dollar rent a car (The name says it all) I went to see the OU women’s team play Texas A&M in a great game. Two top 25 Women’s teams going head up. There was great intensity and atmosphere in the Lloyd Noble Center. The OU women pulled it out in the end. Then I checked into the Embassy Suites and let me just say, that’s the way the Horsemen travel. I had dinner at JR’s BBQ restaurant and guess who was there? Good ol JR himself. We talked for over 2 hours about everything from the state of the wrestling business, to Brett Favre, to college football, to my presentation. His wife Jan is good people too.

Monday January 18
First of all is Dr. King’s Birthday celebration and to have a kid from HVill presenting at such a prestigious University in the South is what this day is about, getting an opportunity to prove yourself no matter what your color is. We had a packed house of over 70 participants from all over the state of Oklahoma working to help students. It was an incredible site. We got 100% positive feedback and hope to continue to work with the Center for Effective Schools in the future. They are a 1st Class group of educators. After the presentation I went back to JR’s to buy some BBQ and his wife Jan was there and we spent another 2 hours just talking. Great fun!

Tuesday January 19, 2010
I get up early to take advantage of another great breakfast by the Embassy Suites and drive back to the airport. There is a lot of fog so thanks to go ol GPS I maneuvered to the airport. I land back in Dallas and while waiting for my flight who do I see…Welllllll it’s the Big Show. Paul Wight is sitting right in front of me and unlike Dusty Rhodes, he was nice to me. He was on his way to LA.

Great food, fun and a tremendous Professional Development, I couldn’t ask for anything else.

My heart goes out to the people of Haiti. Please know that the CKA SAVE Project over the next few weeks will donate money to the relief efforts. This is truly a tragic situation.


Straight Talk

The Political tide may have shifted with the Massachusetts senatorial election.

NBC is another in a long line of companies that simply doesn’t get how to do business the right way. You don’t treat people that way. Conan O’Brian was a good soldier who did his time and showed you loyalty. You should have known that Jay Leno in prime time wouldn’t work. That being said, “This is the business and you ain’t too far gone to know that.”

There is no true dominant team in College Basketball this season. This year’s tournament is going to be fun.

You have to love Brett Farve. I want Minnesota in the Super Bowl so because of that New Orleans will win. I also want Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl so that means the Jets will win.

What’s up with the Pro Bowl in south Beach?

A lot of coaches are taking time away. It is a tough job and sometimes you need to recharge your batteries.

Leave Tiger alone and let him take care of his business. When he is ready, he will address the media (I hope).

I got my tickets to the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in Arizona during Wrestlemainia weekend. I am a big mark.

That’s all for now. Be Easy and Stay Flam.

January 8:

We are currently working with the following high schools on joint fundraisers.

Happy New Year!!!!!

To everyone I wish you love, peace and soul!!!!!!!!!!

It’s time for the annual list:

I had the pleasure of spending the Holiday week in Florida hear is a brief recap...

Sunday December 27
We had to take group taxis which were interesting. Spent time at the airport watching the Steelers beat the Ravens. The flight on Southwest wasn’t too bad. Riding Southwest is like riding the metro, just sit anywhere. Met a nice lady from Florida who’s kids are still in Maryland. Some of our players took their first flights, which is pretty cool. When we landed we took a charter bus to Daytona Beach with the Allegany College Women’s Team. We passed the Daytona speedway, didn’t stop though.

Monday December 28
Game day (For results please click the team news section). Had a chance to hang out with one of the Horsemen after the game Riley Inge. Now let me tell you something about my teammates from High School…We are all close like brothers and to be able over 20 years later to get together and spend time with each other is special. I try to tell people to cherish these moments because they don’t happen everyday.

Tuesday December 29
Game day (For results please click the team news section). Hung out with Riley again and went to possibly the slowest barber shop in the country. We also hung out at the local mall and found out that I am old. The clothes I like and the clothes the other coaches like (who are younger) are different. My players were these funky colored shirts and jackets, I can’t do it.

Wednesday December 30
Tournament is over now it’s off to Orlando. The hotel is not ready for us (this place sucks) so we head to the Outlet Mall for some shopping (I can’t afford anything, but I can look right?). We finally get settled and have a nice dinner, but I am saving my strength for tomorrow, I am going to Universal Studios.

Thursday December 31
Universal is great!!!!! Forget Disney and their dopey stories give me this place. First they have a great meal plan, eat all day for like $20 and drink all day for like $10, so for $30 I ate pretty well. Second, they have this single rider line for people who don’t care who they sit with. Third, they have these free lockers that you can put your stuff in until you get off the ride, but they have my fingerprints, so I hope they don’t put me away for something in the future. The rides were fantastic but not good enough that I want season passes. I am also lucky that I was able to get on all the rides, gotta lose some weight, as opposed to some other parks. Spent New Year’s Eve on the phone with my lovely wife and kids, will be home tomorrow.

January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!! Packing up and ready to leave, those bums at hotel didn’t clean our room last night. We are at the airport and everything is too expensive. Great time had by all. My next extended trip will be to Oklahoma in a few weeks.

More random notes

I hated 2009, too many people passing away. I want to send my condolences to the Anoai family on the loss of Edward Fatu (Umaga) and to the family of Dr. Death Steve Williams (I named my 2 cats after him and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy (they were one of my favorite tag teams). I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Wrestling Convention a few years ago. It is no secret that I am a fan of the Wrestling business, but it still is painful to see the loss of young people at an early age. I will wait for the autopsy before I pass judgment, but it is a tragedy in every sense of the word.

Welcome back AI and Tmac, but you have to calm down and as Dewayne Johnson would say…Know your role and shut your mouth. If you get picked as starters for the NBA All Star Game turn it down.

Here are my playoff predictions for the NFL

AFC: Jets over Cincy
NE over Baltimore

NFC: Phila over Dallas
Green Bay over Arizona

Indy sucks for not going for the perfect season. I think it will come back to bite them because their players will not be sharp. Embrace the opportunity to make history, even though I love Mercury Morris every year.

Bosie State is a good team; they get screwed like Bret every year (Random Wrestling Reference)

Is this going to be the year of the idiot?

Gilbert, what are you thinking? It’s bad enough that you were dumb enough to bring guns to the Verizon Center knowing how Papa Abe felt about them, and then you make jokes about it? It’s hard to support that. As Tootie used to say, there’s going to be trouble.

Mike Leach is an idiot and so is Texas Tech. You just don’t do business this way. You cannot complete an investigation in 2 days. Here is what I would have done:

1. Acknowledge the James family concern
2. Allow him to coach the bowl game
3. Give Coach Leach his bonus on December 31
4. Review the incident in private, while allowing Coach Leach to look for other coaching opportunities
5. Sign your recruiting class
6. Look for potential replacements
7. Address the media during Super Bowl week (you will get loss in the shuffle)
8. Make a final decision.

You don’t fire anyone after a 2 day investigation, but you also don’t bad mouth kids publically like Mike Leach is doing. That’s dumb and I can’t hire him because of his public comments.

The Washington Redskins made great hires in Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan.

The Monday Night Wars may return in 2010, but it was good to see Bret Hart. Wrestling needs guys like him in the business. More on that in the future. That’s all for now. Happy Birthday Grace Helen and Deacon Gorham.

Be Easy and Stay Flam.