It’s not looking good for Drake as I write this, which means it’s not looking good for me. I have the Bulldogs into the Sweet 16 in my bracket, but they currently trail Western Kentucky by 13 points with about 12 minutes left in the second half. I also picked Davidson to get to the Sweet 16, but it trails Gonzaga with about 10 minutes left. Fortunately, I didn’t turn in my bracket this year, the first time I can remember not doing so. I think the humiliation of losing year after year finally got to me.
Last week, I asked you who you would select as the top five college basketball players in the history of the state of Kansas. I appreciate the many responses I received, which you can read in the comments of that particular post. I also promised I would give you mine. The top five players are, I believe: Wilt Chamberlain, Danny Manning, Dave Stallworth, Bob Boozer and Xavier McDaniel. Now, that’s hardly a team _ all of those guys are frontcourt players; there are no guards. So if I had to pick a starting lineup from the great Kansas players from the past _ and present _ I would go like this: Point guard: Kirk Hinrich; shooting guard: Mitch Richmond; Power forward: Michael Beasley; Small forward: Dave Stallworth; Center: Wilt Chamberlain. Why is Beasley on the second team and not the first? Because he has played only one season at K-State and, that being the case, I can’t put him on my all-time Top 5. But if I were going to pick a lineup to start an NCAA Tournament game with, I’d be crazy not to include Beasley. And I’m not crazy. At least not right now.
Looks like I’ll be visiting a new city next week, Detroit. Well, Detroit is not really a new city, obviously. It’s been around for a long time. But I’ve never been to Detroit or, amazingly, the state of Michigan. So I’ll be crossing another state off my list, leaving only: Maine, Oregon, North Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho and Montana on my to-do list. I’m told Ford Field, which is the site of the Midwest Regional and is in downtown Detroit, is a fabulous facility. I’m also told that downtown Detroit is a little sketchy. People who have been to Ford Field and Comerica Park, home of the Tigers, tell me to be sure not to talk in that area after the sun goes down. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? Have any of you been to Detroit. Do you have any suggestions for things to do in the area of Ford Field that won’t result in my mugging? If so, be sure and drop me a line here. This all assumes, of course, that Kansas or Kansas State _ or both _ win their second-round NCAA Tournament games tomorrow. I’m sure KU will and I’m thinking K-State will, too, although Wisconsin will be a big test. The Badgers won’t let the Wildcats push them around, the way K-State did Southern California on Thursday night. But Wisconsin isn’t a supremely athletic team, so Kansas State will have a nice edge there. The more I get to see Beasley play basketball, the better. So a K-State win would be nice, setting up one heck of a week in Detroit.
I brought my iPod with me this week, so as I’m working I’m also listening to some tunes. That was a good idea. When you’re covering an NCAA Tournament, you spend hours upon hours at the arena. It’s a blast, but there is a significant amount of down time. The iPod is coming in handy. I’m also watching some NCAA games on my computer. This Davidson-Gonzaga game is becoming a classic with about three minutes to go.
I’ll write more later. Good to talk to you. Now, talk back.
8 Comments
For the love of God, pay the guy the $5 to “watch your car.”
Was in Pontiac for the ‘88 shootout involving K-State & Kansas & my advice is stick to the media hospitality rooms. Detroit, Flint & all of that seemed dirty to me. Ask Tuttle if he knows anyone up there. Those Wildcat photographers always keep in touch.
Detroit is a tale of 2 cities: Historic downtown Detroit and the modern suburbs. Downtown Detroit’s definitely got some really scary parts, but the area around Comerica Park (where The Tiger’s play)/Ford Field/Fox Theater is not bad if you’re there when something’s going on.
The surface lots adjacent to the stadium/Ford field are probably going to cost you an arm and a leg because of location so don’t be surprised. I’ve also heard that some non-professional surface lots will have “attendants” who don’t really work for the parking lot owners, so you have to be careful about who you’re giving money to. A parking structure or on-street parking with a meter is your best bet and there are a couple good ones in the area. The structure I am thinking of is on a sidestreet adjacent to the Fox Theater (which is well worth seeing inside if it’s open, by the way).
Campus Martius is an outdoor skating rink in the general area but if I remember correctly it’s a hike from the sports arenas. The Hard Rock Cafe is a little hard to find so look for the Border’s bookstore on the ground floor of a new building which I think faces Campus Martius - Hard Rock Cafe is just around the corner.
Unfortunately while it is located downtown, Joe Louis Arena, where the Detroit Red Wings play hockey is not near the football and baseball venues. Additionally, the Detroit Piston’s play basketball in the suburban Palace of Auburn Hills.
For the most part, downtown Detroit looks worse than it is, especially when you’re exiting the freeway. Blocks of burned out houses and empty neighborhoods are startling. But keep driving and you’ll find some good things.
Because it’s easy to get turned around off the beaten path (both on the freeways and when walking) if you stay within the areas that have traffic, you should be fine. But, as with any big city, don’t ask for trouble.
Have a map and know how to get where you want to go.
Know the freeway lingo: There’s I-94, M-14, I-275, “696″, “The Lodge”, “The Jeffrey’s”, “The Cass Corridor” among others, before listening to the morning traffic report. Check with your hotel about construction routes because SOMETHING is ALWAYS under construction.
People drive VERY fast here on REALLY bad roads so expect to have someone on your bumper going 80 mph. If you’re not paying attention, you may suddenly find yourself in bumper to bumper traffic unwittingly heading for Windsor, Canada; so bring your passport.
There are several excellent museums in the New Center Area, a section of downtown Detroit near Wayne State University, but they’re not within walking distance of the sports arena.
The Detroit Institute of Art has just re-openned after a huge renovation and it is really a gem. It has underground parking conveniently onsite and a pleasant indoor courtyard eatery. The place is world class.
The Detroit Science Center is nearby, and while I have never been there, it’s always got something going on.
If your hotel is located in the suburbs, the Cranbrook Institure of Science is neat.
Downtown Detroit has huge potential and has had some great opportunities for national exposure in the recent past. The Detroit Suburbs (Dearborn, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield, etc) for the past 30 yeras have been where the action is so it’s really nice to see life happening back in Motown again.
I hope you enjoy your stay.
Leave your watch and all other valuables in Wichita. Went there once and that was enough. Dirty hotels, lousey food and lots of shady characters. Take a cab, do not walk on the streets. Now Windsor Canada is something else, better take lots of dollar bills for the ladies. Good thing you are single, leave Bruce at home.
Regarding the top 5…
A lot of people talk about Clyde Lovellette being one of the greatest at KU. I do not know if you had the chance to watch “Black Magic” on ESPN, about the integration of basketball at the college and pro ranks. I learned a lot, but interestingly, they portrayed Lovellette in a negative light, saying he was instrumental as one of the stars for the St. Louis Hawks in not allowing Cleo Hill, an African American player to make it on the team, and being “blacklisted” from the NBA…a fascinating show.
Great Tournament so far. I’m watching it on my computer in Singapore as I can. Since we are 13 hours ahead of CDT its a bit difficult to see many live games. I did get to see KU live, thought they looked great. I’m watching Texas now (after the fact). The Drake game was amazing. Sorry to see Drake get beat. I enjoy your blog.
Greg
Call Nate Robertson or David Chadd for Detroit details.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised. Detroit is a great sports city and you will have a great time.