Rex Hudler

Guess we'll see what the report says. I guess I am ignorant in hoping that they are nothing more than has already been found. The one thing I don't get is that both ESPN and Yahoo sports reported that IU's findings reported that Sampson made 100 impermissible phone calls. That's not true at all. Sampson was not found to make any phone calls at all. His part was that he participated in approximately a dozen 3-way calls in a year's time, which were not allowed under his sanctions. Unless they have found additional info, Sampson was not tied to any outgoing phone calls. All that said, if he hid additional violations or lied, I will first puke and second call for his ass to be fired immediately. If the allegations are basically what IU has self-reported, then this is old news.

Big Brother has to be one of the dumbest shows on TV. The stupid challenges are assinine and anyone watching that show should have their intelligence questioned.... including me! I have no idea why I watch it, but I have the past 2 or 3 seasons.

Good episode tonight. I wondered what direction they would take it. It actually gives them several more story lines to follow, which may be tough with only 7 episodes. I wonder how they ended it. I'd hate for there to be no closure after these seven episodes, but if they get enough viewers, I'd love to see another season too.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 12, 2008 -> 08:24 PM) Quick edit: Dont think im trying to push Koufos as a freshman of the year candidate, I actually think hes actually extremely weak as a ballplayer right now. I was actually quite impressed with Koufos on Sunday.

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Feb 12, 2008 -> 08:16 PM) Rex, Yeah I know that was what I was referring to. At first I thought itd be the other way around, White getting more looks because of Gordon. But White really has looked good this year, and quite frankly he is going to get selected in the top 15 in the draft. I know I said otherwise to start the season, but this is clearly a different player and he just has been great in the low post. The fact he goes up against bigger guys almost every game shows that in the NBA he can play the PF no problem and with many teams running he just looks like he will make the show. IMO the best player on Indiana has been White. (Not saying B10 player of the year because there is a lot more games to be played) Badger, you're singin to the choir. I was also critical of White and skeptical of his NBA chances before the season. It was strange, but it was almost like you could see a light switch turned on after the 3rd game of the season. He still doesn't have great feet and doesn't run the court well, but he certainly has been better in those areas as well. Relentless is, I believe, the best way to describe his play. I'll look forward to seeing him in the next three games to see how he does. Michigan State rebounds very well so that may be a challenge for him.

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Feb 12, 2008 -> 07:57 PM) Im confused how can Hummel be the freshman of the year when ESPN already gave the award to Gordon? And the Big 10 is killing itself letting these teams play so physical in conference play. Ever year they get to the NCAA tournament and the refs call it much tighter. Hell the idiot from Maryland in the studio tonight handed Gordon the Big Ten POY award. Does this guy even watch games? Gordon doesn't even get the best player on his team award. Not trying to take away from Gordon, he has had an excellent freshman year, but DJ White has been the best player on IU and in the Big Ten this year.

9:00 central time tonight! I watched almost the entire first season over the past 2-3 days. I'm stoked!

QUOTE(Steff @ Feb 12, 2008 -> 02:17 PM) So why not alter your deductions, have the extra amount direct deposited into an interst baring savings account that you never even see and then withdraw from in February? Steff, I am the same way. I am pretty good with my money, but if I were getting back an additional $25-$50 a week, it would get spent. Besides the amount of interest you would actually gain on that money is minimal at best. As you mentioned with charitable contributions, deductions can vary year to year. I don't have the same business deductions nor mortgage interest each year. I could guess, but the net amount in interest to me nowhere near outweighs the benefits of getting a lump sum later. Granted I am single and am not getting $10k refunds. I certainly understand the concept, but the reality of most people taking that money and putting it away and never dipping into it is not great. I figure if I can live within the means I have now and get a lump sum back, then that is the best scenario for me, regardless of what the financial gurus say is best for me.

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Feb 12, 2008 -> 02:46 PM) I doubt either will go, and ballhandling should fall to QT, Wayne, and William Graves. Not going to be another fun game, Tyler will have to put the team on his back again it looks like. As much talent as you guys have on that team and you can't find somebody that can dribble?

QUOTE(Brian @ Feb 11, 2008 -> 08:16 PM) I know we don't talk about chick ball, but Rutgers got royally screwed against Tennessee tonight. Maybe I am the only one that sees it, but when watching that highlight, I saw the foul and had no problem with the call. The problem is, a human cannot react as quickly as tenths of seconds on a clock so the call comes in later. And if that's not enough, any team wearing those ugly assed pink uniforms, regardless of how good their cause is, SHOULD get screwed. UGH

The most overrated team in college basketball will find out what they are really worth in the next 8 days. After surviving road games at Illinois and Ohio State, IU faces Wisconsin, Michigan State and Purdue at home - a tough 7 day stretch! Wed Feb. 13 vs. Wisconsin Sat Feb. 16 vs. Michigan St Tue Feb 19 vs. Purdue Michigan State and Purdue go head to head tomorrow night, Tue Feb 12. The Big Ten title picture may become quite a bit clearer in the next week.

Don't sweat it Tex.... just get right back on your plan and you will be fine. Cheating in a big way is not a bad thing. On the other hand, I had a crappy weekend and didn't eat well all weekend. I lost all discipline. Trying to get it back today, but it is likely going to be too much to have any positive results this week. Not helping that I have flu-like symptoms today and I am weak.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 11, 2008 -> 11:27 AM) I never make enough money, never. My salary has almost quadrupiled my salary since I graduated college, but it seems like I have less money now than then. Who's fault is that? lol

QUOTE(Brian @ Feb 10, 2008 -> 04:38 PM) Too bad we have nobody to throw the ball to him yet. Threet will be fine. Doesn't take much to throw short passes and allow your playmakers to make plays

DJ White is by far and away the Big Ten Player of the Year. He is IU's best player this year period. DJ has been the Big Ten Player of the Week 4 times already this year. Gordon is a great player and a great scorer. But DJ White has been much more important to this team this year. After about the 5th game of the year, he has been playing like an absolute beast. This is what we always expected of him, but he had never delivered. In fact, you might argue that he has been better than IU fans hoped he would be. His consistency has only made his performance that much more unbelievable.

Michigan picks up another football commitment today in Montavious Odoms a 3-star WR from Florida. He did not sign on NSD and was reportedly headed to Miami on a track scholarship, somehow being able to play football for the 'Canes as well. He's decided to go to Michigan and is sending his LOI in today. He'll play slot receiver for the Wolverines and is a speedster.

Just watched the first episode of the series. I had not seen all of it. It was a good beginning to the show.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 9, 2008 -> 05:53 PM) Honestly, I dont care, i didnt have to look through anyones eyes but Tiller and his coaches comments. Maybe you should not look through your Michigan goggles. Where theres smoke theres fire FWIW. And I saw on a Wisco board today that a UW scouting insider said Pryor had crossed Oregon and Michigan off his list, not sure how believable he is, but they seem to think its real. Yeah I am going to buy some idiot Wisconsin blogger for breaking news on Pryor. There's no smoke. There's no fire. Tiller just whined because a kid he recruited wanted to go elsewhere. That gets extraploated to Rodriguez pissing off the entire Big Ten. Stupid stuff

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 9, 2008 -> 10:25 AM) Very ironic statement, since most late and quick recruitment just happen to be sneaky. He came to campus with his teammates with no offer nor a promise of one. Michigan didn't even offer him until a week after his campus visit. Sound pretty simple to me. UM said they were interested depending on what happened with other recruits they have already been pursuing. The kid was interested in Michigan enough to wait until the 11th hour to even get an offer, yet signed. You tell me how that is sneaky. Or are you just looking through your OSU x-ray goggles on this one??

For starters, those that have Universal HD can catch up on the 1st season starting Saturday night at 9:00. They are showing a Jericho marathon that runs through 7:00pm on Sunday. (central time) The Return begins Tuesday night at 9:00 on CBS. Seven episodes were all filmed and completed before the writer's strike so it will not be affected whatever happens with the writers. For those that did not watch the first season, I recommend you do so. The series is about the US being hit with nuclear bombs and how a small town in Kansas copes with being cut off from the outside world, not knowing who they were at war with or how anything happend. They get information bit by bit and learn there are other towns that have set up trading posts and are figuring out how to survive. Crime becomes rampant. They give you a bit more information each week to help you try and put the puzzle on what happened together, but they do a great job of leaving you hanging, wanting more the next week. The characters and story lines are excellent and it was one of the better dramas of last year.

lost 5 this week, just in case you missed it in the other thread

Here are my thoughts on last night.... I could give a crap less about the chanting and yelling at Gordon and Sampson. In fact, I'd have been disappointed if Illini fans weren't all over them in that regard. I could do without the F U Gordon chants, but in the grand scheme of things, big damned deal. IU and Gordon expected to walk into a nasty atmosphere last night. I don't think, nor I would hope that anyone would condone the throwing of anything at the Gordon family or any IU fans. That is not appropriate at ANY sporting event. However, 16,000 people weren't doing it, so it can be chalked up to a few idiots. There seem to be a few in almost every crowd. Worse has happened at ACC games. None of that makes it okay, however. Anyone who says the Gordon family should not have been there is just wrong. They have every right to watch their son play and to expect a safe environment. They SHOULDN'T have to deal with verbal attacks, but again, I think they expected at least some of it. When items start raining down on you from above in that kind of atmosphere it is natural to feel threatened and worried it could get out of hand. Their reaction, whatever it truly was, is probably normal based on the situation. Lastly, I didn't think the chest bump what that big of a deal. I don't like it. I think it shows that from the beginning the Illini were going to try to do everything they could to intimidate Gordon. Basically they turned it into a playground type game with lots of bumping and talking. Whatever. You have to be able to handle those kinds of situations and in the grand scheme of things it really wasn't a big deal (aside from the fact that it did get into Gordon's head immediately). The biggest problem with something like that is that it can only encourage the type of atmosphere that ultimately ends up with people throwing things. Fortunately, it did not get worse than it did. It's easy to sit here and type and criticize, but minus a few things here and there, I thought the crowd was exactly like it should have been last night. I think this game actually helped IU. It made them play tough. It made them deal with adverse conditions. For that, I think UI for preparing IU for later games down the road. Now we will see if IU can actually translate that into wins.

QUOTE(shipps @ Feb 8, 2008 -> 01:47 PM) I guess whistle blowing just isnt in my nature.Especially on such a small level of misconduct IMO.If she is getting the job done leave her alone,if she isnt this would be something to bring up. Here is the part you don't get. It has nothing to do with whistleblowing at all. Companies have the right to read or monitor emails because they belong to the company. The time at work belongs to the company and the employee has the responsibility to honor that. If you were paying attention, the original post wasn't one questioning whether discipline should be dispersed, but more of a concern of losing a needed employee. Granted no one wants to work in an environment where someone is always looking over your shoulder. But let's not act as if a manager is supposed to ignore an employee who is breaking policy (or at least being somewhat ignorant and not realizing it). Follow the rules and whistleblowing is never an issue.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Feb 8, 2008 -> 12:55 PM) i will be really happy when this entire thing is behind both illinois and indiana fans. in general i tend to think they are similar fanbases, classy, with a keen eye for tradition, and both possessing a lunatic fringe that embarrasses even fellow fans. debating who was right and who was wrong in the situation is entirely pointless now. i'm not proud of how some people acted last night, but i also think it was relatively tame compared to what people were suggesting was going to happen. of course, i know some indiana fans will take issue with that and claim that last night was some horrendous episode, but to me they were going to say that whatever happened. i think the worst part is that the two people at the center of the thing (weber and e.j.) come out of it with a little bit of a stain even though neither really deserves this degree of negative attention. i firmly believe gordon could have handled the situation better, but he's a kid and you can't hold it against him until the end of time. i think it is really unfortunate that it has to be brought up with regularity when you talk about him. he is a rare talent, and as weber said last night, one of the best freshman he's seen in his 20 years in the league. we should be talking about that, not some extraneous bullcrap. as for weber, this has just become another opportunity to those who already have an axe to grind against him to chirp about what he should and shouldn't do. i love it when people try to put themselves in his shoes and dictate how he should have handled all of the situations that have grown out of this. gmafb. for whatever you want to say about weber (and he has plenty of faults) he's someone who for the most part has unwavering dedication to and from those who have played for him and coached with and against him. that tells me a helluva lot more about him than any of the tripe associated with this entire mess. nice post doc

Roundtree wanted to play with his teammates. Michigan also landed TE Brandon Moore and ATH Michael Shaw from Trotwood Madison HS. He chose to come to visit Michigan without an offer. Michigan did not even offer him until the night before and it was unsure whether they would do so or not. So his decision was made at the eleventh hour because everything happened about that fast. It's obvious that he wasn't totally sold on Purdue and that other factors, such as playing with his teammates were important to him. The QB from Trotwood was a former Cincinnati commit, but decommitted awhile back. He also visited Michigan, hoping for an offer. As of yet, UM has not offered him. There was nothing sneaky about his recruitment, it was just late and quick.