Back in the saddle again

There's a vicious 24-hour bug going around. The bad news is it will knock you down quickly. The good news is you will be back to normal in 36 hours-or-so.

I hate being sick.

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Coaching rumors:

Former East Carolina head coach Steve Logan is sniffing around Chapel Hill these days. It appears he's in the running for North Carolina's offensive coordinator position.

Dan Hawkins will be named the new coach of Colorado tomorrow. I was asked yesterday if I was surprised he would leave Boise State. The question is am I surprised he would leave Boise for Colorado? Good hire for them. They need someone who can not only coach, but improve the football program's image. I believe Hawkins can do both.

Let me get this straight: Houston Nutt hires a high school coach as offensive coordinator at Arkansas, but is now looking at a former NFL coordinator for an assistant coach slot? Only in Arkansas does this make sense.

Former Western Michigan coach Gary Darnell expected to be the next defensive coordinator at Texas A&M.

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Ron Artest: Terrell Owens in baggy shorts? Star-Telegram writer Jim Reeves believes Artest is worth the risk if the Dallas Mavericks want to win it all this year.

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I'll reserve comment at this time on the Memphis Grizzlies and their 3-game skid (don't want to be accused of Grizz bashing). But I think this quote in today's paper says it all: "We put our heads down," Damon Stoudamire said. "I'm not going to say that we quit. But it's almost like we did quit. We didn't really compete (in the third quarter). ... I would like to see this team keep its head up and keep playing."

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck... well, you know the rest.

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Southern Mississippi will play in their eighth bowl game in nine years next Tuesday night in the displaced New Orleans Bowl. Al Jones recounts a little USM history in today's Biloxi Sun-Herald.

I'll ask again, why hasn't USM AD Richard Giannini offered coach Jeff Bower a lifetime contract?

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Speaking of the Golden Eagles, in case you haven't noticed their basketball team is really bad this year. Is it too quick to say Larry Eustachy ain't getting the job done? Okay, I'll back off... it's only his second season. But c'mon Larry, CUSA needs you to do better!

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Are the Atlanta Brave for sale? Time-Warner says it is "exploring" the possibility. It appears fans would like to see Falcons' owner (and Home Depot founder) Arthur Blank buy the team. Could former owner Ted Turner want them again?

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The New Orleans Saints are a step closer to home after a Wednesday meeting with players' association head Gene Upshaw. Good. I am tired of their whining, specifically Aaron Brooks. The quarterback made no friends in his Westwood One radio appearance during their coverage on Monday Night Football earlier this week. Jim Gray fanned the flames as Brooks cried over not knowing where they would practice or play. He tried to tug on our heart strings saying players are unsure over whether they should extend the leases on their homes.

Give me a break. After Hurricane Katrina devestated New Orleans, your job was still there. You never lost a paycheck. You are worried about the lease on your house... there are many who just want a house.

I am the furthest thing from a bleeding heart, but it's hard to feel sorry for a millionaire athlete when thousands of people on the Gulf Coast are still struggling to find some sense of normalcy.

Maybe Brooks should have been focusing more on his game. He's been benched for the rest of the season. But don't cry for him... Brooks and the rest of his Saints' teammates are receiving a $40,000 bonus from the NFL and the NFL Players Association for "performing under unusual and unanticipated conditions arising from the Hurricane Katrina tragedy."

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Is there a contraversy brewing with the SEC's basketball officials? Basketball official Travis Correll of Atlanta resigned earlier this week after it became public the US Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil action against him. Then Wednesday the league's director of officiating John Guthrie is replaced. Was it a firing or resignation?

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Music quote of the day:

"God have mercy on the man, who doubts what he's sure of"
- Brilliant Disguise, Bruce Springsteen

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See you on the radio.