There’s a lot of discussion about Wichita State basketball and especially about first-year coach Gregg Marshall and how he’s relating to his team. We had a great phone call on Sports Daily this morning about the matter and the caller, Ronnie, suggested that during the WSU-Missouri State game Tuesday night it appeared Marshall didn’t like his players and his players didn’t like him. Interesting. It’s always a transition for a new coach who inherits players he had no hand in recruiting. And this transition isn’t going as smoothly as Shocker fans had hoped.
However, it’s far, far too early to begin to question Marshall because of his outstanding track record at Winthrop. Wichita State, of course, plays in a much tougher conference than Winthrop (Big South), but I like Marshall’s style and I still believe, once he puts his stamp on this team, it will be successful. It might not happen this season, but it will happen. I think.
As for this season, I’m not sure where the Shockers go from here. My fear, especially after Tuesday night’s performance, is that the players will abandon, because of frustration, the defense and rebounding that has helped them compete effectively in most games this season. If that happens, it could get ugly fast. Let’s hope Marshall can hold this team together. For now, that’s his No. 1 challenge.
There is big news to report on the bowling front. I had my best night ever Tuesday at Seneca Lanes, and I used a beat-up house ball to do so. I rolled a 629 series with games of 244, 189 and 196. That’s nearly a 210 average for those of you whose math skills are deficient. Now, the kicker is the bowling ball. I arrived at Seneca as I always do, around 5:30, and went to get my ball out of the trunk of my car. Except it wasn’t there. I looked and I looked and it was nowhere to be found. So, what could I do. I picked out a bright green house ball first and was prepared to use it. But something about it didn’t feel right. So I went with another way, with a dark blue ball that had chips and scruffs but felt wonderful in my hand. I threw a strike on my first practice ball and I continued to do amazing things throughout the night. The 244 is 13 pins better than my previous high game; the 629 series is easily a personal best. And I made sure the blue ball was put away in a special place for me to use next week.
As for my ball, there is a rumor that a friend of mine has it after I left it at Seneca Lanes three weeks ago. However, my friend, Greg Vance, would really have no business being at Seneca Lanes. He doesn’t bowl there, as far as I know. But he insists he has my ball. I’ll let you know more about this fascinating story in my Saturday Extra Points.
I am going to make this a movie weekend. At least, that’s what I’m planning. However, I do have a Wichita State-Creighton game Saturday night. I want to watch the Kansas State-Oklahoma game that evening an there is a lot of football on all weekend long. So. . . we’ll see. But there are six movies showing that I want to see: The Bucket List, Charlie Wilson’s War, I Am Legend, Juno, Sweeney Todd and Atonement. I might be the only person who hasn’t seen I Am Legend. I love movies, I really do. But I haven’t been to one in a few weeks and that’s ridiculous. I also want to read more books this year. OK, reading one book would be more than I read in 2007, I’m ashamed to admit. I really need to work on my life, don’t I?
Back to bowling for a moment. I was at the lanes Tuesday night and a very nice gentleman and fellow bowler, whose name escapes me, remarked about something that was on my most recent blog. It surprises me when I hear from people who take the time to read. I am very appreciative.
Time for a Top 10 list. Hmmm. How about this one: 10 People Who Make Me Laugh. I’m going to limit this to people I know in my daily life, not professional comedians. Wayne Gifford (Derby classmate who has always, from the first second I met him, been hilarious); Doug Baber (another Derby guy); Jeff Griffith (ditto); David Jabara (my accountant. How many people can say their accountant makes them laugh?); Randy Smith (good friend and former coaching comrade); Denise Neil (Eagle columnist); Lori Linenberger (Denise’s editor); Duane Frazier (former colleague who left the paper a month ago to go to Hawker-Beechcraft); Brent Kemnitz (Wichita State pitching coach); Tyler Gordon (buddy and co-owner of Side Pockets). There are a lot more people who make me laugh so don’t feel offended if you didn’t make this list. I have a feeling this Top 10 thing wasn’t such a good idea. But I’m going to continue with it.
I like New England and Indianapolis to win their AFC home playoff games this weekend, although a voice inside my head is adamant that San Diego will give the Colts a real game. In the NFC, I’m picking Green Bay to win at home against Seattle and, in my upset special, I’m going with the New York Giants to beat Dallas at Texas Stadium. The Giants are 8-1 on the road this season and they have a look to them. I think Dallas can be had.