Wiggins, Selden, Andrew Baggett and other sporting odds 'n' ends

Hype:  I don't know that I've ever anticipated an exhibition game more than tonight's Kansas vs Pittsburg State match-up.  Yes, Pitt State is a NCAA Division II institution that is one of KU's regular exhibition foes.  And, yes, these games are typically blow-outs or feature lackluster play--or both.  But, this year--this year is different.

The hype machine that is Andrew Wiggins and his Fab Five freshman cronies has been on overdrive.  Tonight--finally--we get to see, at least partially, what the hype is all about.

Reality:  Personally, I'm actually more excited to see Wayne Selden of Kansas in action tonight.  Selden is Wiggins' fellow McDonald's All-American recruit, and several members of the media have gushed about Selden's skill and practice work ethic.

Sickening:  The morons and cowards who have bashed Missouri's Andrew Baggett via social media should be ashamed.  In case you missed it, Baggett is MU's kicker who missed a field goal attempt in the third overtime, thus securing South Carolina's come-from-behind victory.  The world of social media lit up with several tweeting sickening rants aimed at Baggett.

Reality-check:  Look, I think Baylor is really, really good and that this Bear team finally has a defense that can stop someone.  The offense is, well, the most potent this side of Eugene, Oregon.  Let's then look at who these Bears have beaten, shall we?  Kansas?  Check.  Louisiana-Monroe?  Check.  West Virginia?  Check.  Wofford?  Check.  The harsh reality for Baylor is that, after this bye week, they now face Oklahoma and Texas Tech at home followed by Oklahoma State on the road.  Baylor then finishes with unranked TCU in Ft. Worth and Texas at home, marking the last game at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco.  It's hard to see Baylor going through those five games without a couple of losses.

Hype:  How do you set a decibel record in an very open stadium in the last few minutes of a game after many in the crowd are comatose from hours of tailgating and pre-game fun?  Just askin'...

Week One: Winners and losers

Week one of college football 2013 style is almost in the books so let's go ahead and review the opening weekend winners and losers.

Winner:  College Football.  The final year of the BCS generated tons of media coverage last week and a scintillating opening marquee match-up in Clemson-Georgia.  It is, indeed, "the best regular season in sports."

Loser:  Kansas State.  I'm not sure what's worse--losing to an FCS team or doing it on the day when a statue of Bill Snyder was unveiled.  While North Dakota State has proven that it's worthy of respect, given its record against BCS foes, few saw this upset coming.

Winner:  Clemson.  The Tigers emerged as a legitimate top five team after scoring one for the ACC over the SEC.

Loser:  Johnny Manzeil.  The guy is pure electricity when the ball is in his hand; when it's not...not so much.

Winner:  Bobby Petrino.  Let's give a nod to Petrino for his return to college coaching and a very solid opening win by Western Kentucky over Kentucky.  (Explain to me again why they played that game in Nashville?)

Loser:  Big 12.  Hmm--KSU goes down to an FCS school as does Iowa State.  West Virginia looks anything but tough in beating William & Mary.  And, Kansas will soon face a Rice team that hung with Texas A&M for a half.

Winner:  Oklahoma State's defense.  We all knew about OSU's offense but holding Mississippi State to three points--c'mon!

Loser:  Will Muschamp, head coach at Florida, was upset at three media outlets for reporting that freshman Jaynard Bostwick was suspended.  Bostwick wasn't among the four suspended but it would alleviate these issues if Muschamp and his peers would announce who IS suspended and/or not playing.  The week one hi-jinks of guys like Muschamp, Les Miles of LSU and Gary Patterson of TCU was petty and silly.

And finally, let's give one final shout-out to Iowa, loser in weekend one to Northern Illinois.  How much longer can the folks in Iowa City keep paying big bucks to Kirk Ferentz, the most overrated coach in college football?

Finally--College Football is back!

Sure, the Royals were competitive further into the season than is normal in Kansas City.  And, yes, it was fun to watch Kansas native Gary Woodland make a late season surge on the PGA Tour.  The Kansas City Chiefs are generating optimism and Sporting KC is once again a contender for an MLS crown.

But, finally, FINALLY--College Football is back.  The season kicked off last night and immediately reminded us of why we love this game that features the best regular season in sports.  ESPN viewers were treated to the pageantry of the SEC with a marquee opener of North Carolina at South Carolina, followed by Ole Miss against Vanderbilt.  Fresno State held on in overtime against Rutgers.  And, USC went on the road (or should I say ocean) to beat Hawaii--not the easiest of away games.

Let's break down a few things as we open college football in full swing this weekend.

Heisman watch:  Is Jadeavean Clowney a product of the hype machine?  The kid is incredibly talented and his mega-hit in last year's Outback Bowl is the stuff of YouTube multi-million viewings.  Yet, he took plays off last night, was frequently double-teamed and seldom was a factor.  Unfortunately for Clowney, there are infrequent occasions for a defensive lineman to have "Heisman moments."

Underrated:  The Pac-12 is loaded this year.  Stanford and Oregon are top 10 teams, USC will rebound from a miserable 2012, UCLA under Jim Mora has an electric QB in Brett Hundley, Washington is much improved and look out for the Arizona schools.

Overrated:  This is the year the Big 12 needs to put up or shut up.  Oklahoma State may be the cream of the conference crop but it's schools like Oklahoma and Texas that need to win big games again.  Kansas State is the darling of local media but, once again, no one nationally is taking them seriously.  Baylor may have the most productive offense in the country but can they stop anybody?  The league has lost a bit of its mojo and now trails the SEC and the Pac-12 as a power football conference.

Weis:  To Charlie's credit, he is not automatically granting starting berths to his crop of junior college transfers.  Kansas is disappointed that highly regarded Chris Martin was booted from the team, that transfer Nick Harwell has to sit out a year, and that Marcus Jenkins-Moore is out with a knee injury.  That means other transfers must step up and, thus far, only a select few are listed as starters.  Good for Weis--he knows fans want instant improvement but he also understands the need for long-term stability and cultural change in the program.  Improving in the win column is a must to show progress but, after next week's opener, where will KU get its wins?  A win at Rice on September 14 is absolutely critical.

Pinkel:  There's a hot seat in Columbia, MO and Gary Pinkel is on it.  What's the number of wins required for this season to be a success?  The Tigers had better start 4-0 (although a trip to Indiana will not be a sure win) before road trips to Vanderbilt and Georgia followed by visits from Florida and South Carolina.  If the Tigers are 5-3 at that point, they could easily finish 7-5; if they are 4-4, then it could be a struggle to become bowl eligible.

Snyder:  How does Saint Bill improve on last season?  Gone are Collin Klein and Arthur Brown but methinks that Purple Nation will see a reloaded K-State.  The 'Cats won't make a second straight BCS game given the prospects at Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Texas but will likely finish fourth in an improved league.

Bye-bye:  It's bye-bye, BCS.  The system that irked fans, coaches and media types is giving way to the College Football Playoff in 2014-2015.  Yet, for all of its faults, the BCS did successfully pit one versus two on a consistent basis, even if the ranking system riled up emotions across the country.  We look forward  to the new four-team playoff and the controversy that will occur the first time that the fifth ranked team cries "foul!"

Finally...Major League Soccer

(Editor's note:  The following is reprinted from the Premier Sports Management website, www.premiersportsonline.com.)

It may be hard to remember, or even fathom, but for one 30-day period almost 20 years ago this summer, the U.S. was the focal point of the world—not just sports…the world.

In 1994, nine U.S. cities hosted matches as part of World Cup USA 1994, the most-watched sporting event in the world on a quadrennial basis.  Beginning with the opening in Chicago on June 17 and culminating in the Brazil-Italy final a month later in the Rose Bowl, American stadia hosted sellout crowds and boisterous fans from across the globe.  The U.S. squad even pulled off a stunning upset, beating Colombia 2-1, in an early round match.  Players like Tony Meola, Marcelo Balboa, Eric Wynalda and John Harkes were stars of that U.S. roster and the grand plan, for the U.S. Soccer Federation, was to use the success and visibility of the World Cup to propel soccer to its rightful place as a major American sport.  Major League Soccer was formed in 1993 and the league used World Cup as the forum for reaching out to prospective sponsors and key media.

It’s been a long 19 years since that heady time of ’94.  MLS sputtered out of the gate in the post-World Cup world of American soccer and only recently has found growth given the construction of soccer-specific venues across the league, and the success of franchises in markets like Seattle, Portland and…Kansas City. 

“Kansas City” you say!?  Yes, here in the good ol’ Midwest, none other a media outlet than The New York Times has realized the success story of Sporting Kansas City and Major League Soccer as the fourth professional franchise in town.  (Kansas City boasts the NFL Kansas City Chiefs, Major League Baseball Royals, and two NASCAR events each season at Kansas Speedway.)

Yesterday’s article in the Times, written by Sam Borden, correctly identified the key strategic move made by the owners of Sporting Kansas City—define your target, i.e., the 18-35 young professional demographic, and intentionally reach out to that technologically connected audience.  It helped, of course, that this audience was one who had experienced little to no postseason success via the Royals and the Chiefs.

Sporting engaged with this connected audience via social media to determine likes/dislikes and to help guide franchise decisions.  That fan data helped influence the naming and branding decisions of the club.  And, the local owners designed a venue, Sporting Park, that began to address the needs of those attending live events today—strong WiFi, social media connectivity during the match, and advanced camera systems for appealing videoboard activity.  It’s that sort of fan experience that is so appealing to the young professional demographic that Sporting covets.

Have there been missteps along the way?  Of course, with the Livestrong naming rights being one questionable move coupled with issues raised by some season ticketholders about customer service.  Overall, though, the franchise has been a roaring success off of the field coupled with the quality of play on the pitch over the past three seasons.  The success story has enough across sports appeal that 200 different franchises have sent executives to Kansas City to see Sporting Park and to talk to the team’s ownership and management team.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-07-18/sporting-kansas-city-makes-the-stadium-more-like-your-couch

Next week, Kansas City will host the MLS All-Star Game, a fitting tribute to the work of this very successful local franchise and ownership group.  It will be a time to acknowledge what’s been built here in Kansas City and also to reflect back on that seminal worldwide event of 19 years ago and think “finally.”

Is there a more humbling sport than golf?

Is there a more humbling game than golf?  Seriously.  If so, what is it?

Today we witnessed the magnificence of one of the truly "good guys" in golf and in sports--Phil Mickelson won his fifth major championship and his first British Open championship, closing with a 66 to pull away and win by three strokes.

Yet it was this same Mickelson who self-proclaimed himself a "dope" for his colossal collapse at the 2006 U.S. Open when, up by one stroke on the 18th hole, he hit driver and what had to be the worst shot of his professional career.  How bad was the shot?  Let's just say that there were fans in hospitality tents who had a better lie and line than Mickelson did for his second shot.

Fast forward to this summer's U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club where, once again, Mickelson collapsed in grand style, causing many media members to very publicly question the golfer's ability to win another major and, more caustically, question if he had what was between the ears for our nation's championship much less "The Open," which has been around for 142 years.

The beauty of Mickelson is that he was humbled and has come back.  Yet, for every Mickelson (and there are few), there is a Greg Norman, a Jean van de Velde, or an Ian Baker-Finch who has very publicly struggled to win a major, infamously blown a lead, or faded into obscurity because of the dreaded yips.

Yes, golf is the most humbling of games given the individuality of the sport and the fact that every round and every shot is different--none occur at the same place on the same course over the course of a career.

Today's British Open is ultra-fulfilling because a golfer who had been humbled has shown he still has what it takes to be defined as one of the game's greats.  As for Norman, van de Velde, Baker-Finch and the others, their names are there with the countless golfers who few remember...those who have been humbled.

The lost generation

My son is 26.  During his lifetime he's experienced and witnessed the following:

- The internet.
- Apple becoming a half-trillion dollar company.
- Five presidents.
- Wireless networking.
- Three wars in the Middle East.
- Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
- The adoption of the DVD, CD, Blu-Ray and now, digital and on-demand media.

What my son hasn't witnessed:

- Major League Baseball playoffs in Kansas City.

Seriously--is there a more stunning data point about the futility of this franchise?

Welcome to Kansas, Mr. Wiggins!

A bit over 24 hours ago, Bill Self, Kurtis Townsend and the rabid fan base that bleeds crimson-and-blue found out what few expected--Andrew Wiggins, the consensus number one recruit in the U.S., had committed to the University of Kansas.

The resulting hue and cry from those giddy with anticipation to those wronged by the slight caused #Kansas, #kubball, and #Wiggins to trend on Twitter.  A few misguided Kentucky fans took their anger out on Wiggins, sharing threats of injury and other epithets via social media.  And, Kansas basketball was suddenly thrust back in the sports news--46 days removed from that 25 foot three point dagger by Michigan's Trey Burke in the NCAA Tournament's round of 16.

What do we make out of all this?  Well, on this day after, cooler heads are acknowledging that Wiggins will be hard-pressed to live up to the hype.  Yet, who suddenly isn't intrigued by the impact Wiggins will have on Kansas' program and the unbelievable Champions Classic in Chicago, November 12, which will feature Kansas versus Duke and Kentucky versus Michigan State.

Here's the impact that "the decision" by young Mr. Wiggins will have on Kansas and his new teammates:

- The addition of Wiggins cements this year's Kansas recruiting class as the school's best ever--not just under Self but...ever.  Self and staff (giving major props to Townsend for his role in landing Wiggins) have arranged a class full of guys who can play right away, from McDonald's All American Wayne Selden to Joel Embiid, now the top center prospect in this class, to sharpshooters Brannen Greene and Connor Frankamp, to speedy PG Frank Mason.  There's even the possibility that Tarik Black, a Memphis transfer who's immediately eligible, could commit and provide further reinforcements to Self's frontcourt.  Of course, the cherry on top is Wiggins--a certifiable talent who not only is the best finisher in the class of 2013, but also the best defender, which has to make the defensive-minded Self just salivate.

- The Jayhawks very likely will struggle early, given the wholesale changeover in the roster and the murderous non-conference schedule.  In addition to Duke in Chicago, KU travels to play Florida and Colorado; hosts New Mexico, Georgetown and San Diego State; and travels to the Bahamas for a tournament there.  That isn't exactly the type of schedule built for team who doesn't have one returning starter.  Yet, Self acknowledged that Wiggins is an "alpha dog" and the type of kid who will provide an "assassin's" mentality to the team, thus giving his coach reason for optimism even with a very difficult schedule looming.

- Yes, Oklahoma State will be very formidable with the return of Marcus Smart, Markel Brown and LeBryan Nash.  But, seriously--who's betting against Kansas now to take their 10th consecutive Big 12 title?

- While the hype machine will go into overdrive once Kansas begins play in November, the good news for Wiggins is that KU has other offensive weapons--notably Perry Ellis.  Wiggins' arrival will take pressure off of Ellis, who exploded late in the season, and vice versa.  Throw in Wayne Selden at the two guard spot and the Jayhawks have three scoring threats combined with a PG, Nadiir Tharpe, who turned into an excellent distributor by season's end.

- Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the decision by Wiggins is Self's biggest commitment ever at Kansas.  There have been mutterings about Self, who is widely considered as an excellent recruiter, inability to get "the guy."  The known courting of kids like Kaleb Tarczewski, Josiah Turner and Julius Randle, among others, who all spurned KU was causing some to wonder if Self had lost his touch with top 10 recruits.  Yesterday's decision was an emphatic "no."  Self connected with Wiggins more than any other of the four coaches and ultimately pulled off the recruiting coup of 2013.

Yesterday was fun but it will pale in comparison to the fun of watching Wiggins play under the banners in Allen Fieldhouse come this November.