The CBS studio analyst for March Madness agreed to speak with “K-Stated.” Full disclosure — my dad, B-Mart, has a man-crush on Clark Kellogg. Just sayin’. Anyway, I talked with “Special K,” the former Ohio State and Indiana Pacers star today about a variety of topics, but mostly Kansas State. Enjoy:
Category Archives: I GOT FIVE ON IT
I GOT FIVE ON IT - Curtis Malone
March 5, 20083:05 p.m.
Finally tracked down the man, even though he wasn’t hard to find. Mr. Malone, the president of the D.C. Assault, K-State’s favorite AAU 
organization, has been at a bunch of home games at Bramlage Coliseum as of late. But I couldn’t catch up with him until Wednesday afternoon, and even then, I wasn’t sure what I should ask him. As fate would have it, I was tracking down something I’d written here on Chris Babb — nothing new there to report, sorry — and I stumbled across a list of questions for Mr. Malone from my pal Sys. So, thanks, Sys. I knew this took a while to happen, but here it is. Don’t say I never did anything for you, and when you speak of me, speak well…
I GOT FIVE ON IT - Bob Lutz
Feb. 28, 20083:33 p.m.
This man is a trip. He kills me. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, but I finally asked him. He agreed, and The Eagle’s sports columnist breezed through some questions for his favorite fan base:
1. Why do people get the impression you hate Kansas State? You love KU, don’t you?
Hate? Love? These are very strong emotions. Everybody knows I have no emotion. I simply judge the sports world from a stoic ivory tower and pass down judgments that are, usually, without fault. Can an ivory tower be stoic? Sorry, sometimes my own writing distracts me. Anyway, back to your question. My father whipped me with a purple belt when I was young, so maybe that has something to do with my “hatred.” There were now crimson and blue belts in our house. This is all deeply psychological and, honestly, I’m not comfortable with self-examination. The bottom line is that I’m a sports columnist who writes about my many, many opinions. Everybody has opinions; I get to share mine in a newspaper. I’m sure that annoys people. Hell, it annoys me sometimes. But I have no hatred or love for Kansas State. Ditto for Kansas. And Wichita State. And Delaware State. The only team I have “love” for is the St. Louis Cardinals, and I have a really strong feeling they’re going to test that love this summer. I’m equally loathed by Wichita State fans. And KU fans are just too cool to really care that much about what a columnist in Wichita has to say.
I GOT FIVE ON IT - Ben Martin
Feb. 15, 20084:00 p.m.
His wisdom has grown accordingly with my age, and isn’t that how it usually is between sons and fathers?
Retired and still living in the Vermont house I grew up in, Ben Martin — Benny to some, Dad to me — has been become a Kansas State nut.
God bless him.
I GOT FIVE ON IT - Ulla Pomele
Feb. 7, 20083:15 p.m.
Truth be told, Mr. Pomele wasn’t this week’s first choice for the “Five.” It was supposed to be Brad Underwood, but we’ll do that next week. If you have questions, submit them in the comments below.
Anyway, this is a refreshingly candid yet sort of disturbing “Five” with Pomele, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker from Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College who is one of the 19 junior college transfers Kansas State is bringing in or has brought in. Pomele, who is already on campus, is a pleasant, affable kid who, according to his bio, is married. He was a little nervous with so many recorders stuck in his face, but he was honest. Makes you wonder what they sold him on during the recruiting process - besides immediate playing time.
I GOT FIVE ON IT - Garth Gardiner
Jan. 29, 20081:55 p.m.
He lived in Nashville for five years, attempting to become a country music star. He was an official for women’s basketball in the Jayhawk Conference. There might be a lot more you don’t know about Garth Gardiner, but what is abundantly clear — especially after watching him in action from his court-side seat at Bramlage Coliseum, ranting and raving and causing a commotion — is that he is passionate about Kansas State basketball. He’s passionate about K-State, in general, but let’s be real. “Do I love men’s basketball more than the debate team? Yeah, probably.” With tomorrow’s game against Kansas on deck, Gardiner seemed like the logical choice for this edition of “Five.”
1. How did you become such a rabid basketball fan? How did that all develop?
As a kid, growing up here in western Kansas, I grew up in the (Jack) Hartman era. Rolando (Blackmon), Chuckie (Williams)… We didn’t have a football team then. I was always a basketball fan. I remember playing in my parents’ driveway, doing the play-by-play. I went to Jack’s camp, but I was too slow, too white, and too fat to play. But it was always a dream to play for Jack or K-State… I specifically have a passion for K-State basketball, and it has carried on. Here I am, 40 years old, and some people watch me at games and think I’m an idiot. I think I’m good comic relief for Frank (Martin)… I’ve never seen a win in Manhattan. In 1988, when we went to Elite Eight, we beat KU two out of three times. Everybody kind of assumed we get them again… But in the Elite Eight, the day we lost to them, it was probably the second or third darkest day — when Huggs left, the day we lost to A&M in football and losing to KU in the Elite Eight — of my life as a K-State fan… I love the game of basketball. The last eight years, though, before they hired Huggs, it was absolutely brutal. We accepted mediocrity. Everybody can be mad at Huggs for leaving, but I guarantee he misses K-State basketball more than anyone realizes.
I GOT FIVE ON IT… Michael Beasley
Jan. 11, 20083:13 p.m.
I billed it to Mrs. Smith as “Family Friday.” Her feature, “Mama Sayz,” went up earlier today and now it’s her son’s turn. A quick disclaimer - it was loud where Mike was talking, and a bunch of his teammates were around. I didn’t take up much of his time, but I don’t think this is going to be the last one we’ll do with him.
Anyway, enjoy:
1. Your mother had a couple of questions. First, she wanted to know what you thought of “Mama Sayz,” and two, she wanted to know if you enjoyed your birthday because, and I quote, “I can’t get a peep put of him unless he needs something.”
No, I don’t read it. I see her every day. Why do I have to read her blog? (laughter) The birthday was cool. I had cake and pizza at her house with the guys. It was cool. I didn’t do too much on my own.
2. Did you like the Sports Illustrated article?
It was real good. I liked it. But it was too long to read (laughter). It was pretty accurate, though. It was definitely who am I, what I’m about and where I’m from.
3. How many serious moments are there in a day of the life of Michael Beasley?
Probably one or two (laughter). Probably on the basketball court. Or when I’m playing video games. If you want to be serious, don’t come to my room.
4. Is college basketball everything you’d think it was going to be?
Yeah. But I don’t like to lose. I’m not mad, though. In high Division I basketball, losing is going to come.
5. Are you really afraid of the dark, as your mother mentioned in one of her earliest blog entries?
Yeah. Bad things happen in the dark.
(BONUS) 6. What are you listening to right now?
(J-Mart note: one group that I couldn’t hear, even after he repeated it several times – there was a lot of background noise). I listen to Jay-Z all day. Lil’ Wayne. And Lauryn Hill.
(BONUS) 7. Players you admire, professional or collegiate?
If I had to say anybody, I’d say (Duke guard) Nolan Smith and Kevin Durant.
(BONUS) 8. So who’s the best college basketball player in the country?
(Laughter) Tyler Hansbrough, I guess. I’ve never played against him. (J-Mart note: Would you like to?) Oh, yeah.
I GOT FIVE ON IT… Matt Figger
Jan. 3, 200812:18 p.m.
This one could have been a feature. This might have been the best “Five” yet. Have to give thanks to Mr. Figger, the first-year Kansas State assistant coach who was a treat to talk to. Great access, great information — it’s a nice combination, the perfect mix for an epic “Five.”
1. How did K-State come about? Did you have a pre-existing relationship with Frank?
Frank and my relationship goes back to when we both used to work the University of Florida camp together. When Billy Donovan got the job there, I got in because I went to school with one of his assistant coaches at the time, Donnie Jones (now at Marshall). Frank and I started working camps and built a relationship. He was a high school coach in Miami, and I was coaching junior college basketball in Vincennes. I moved to Odessa. Frank was coaching an AAU team, and he had a kid that was available late. I signed the kid at Odessa, and that’s how we started working together. I got six of his kids at Miami High. Frank moved to Northeastern, and three of those kids ended up playing at Northeastern. We were two guys who depended on each other… It happens throughout the country. That’s how recruiting is. With every kid in your program, there is a tie with someone who is influential. You can’t find a player in a program where a coach doesn’t have a tie. It’s six degrees of separation… You can check any program in the country and there is some kind of tie. Happens at Florida, at Kentucky, at Duke… When Dalonte was in D.C., he coached the Assault, and he ended up mentoring Mike in the eighth grade. He happened to get a college job, and that’s how this all came about. There’s always a tie with someone.
2. How does a college baseball player end up coaching college basketball?
It’s funny. Growing up in a small town in Kentucky, everyone dreams of playing basketball at Kentucky. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the talent to play college basketball. A childhood friend of mine, who was 24 at the time, ended up playing junior college ball at Wabash Valley in Illinois. I went to all of the games. The head coach, Pat Smith, who later became the head coach at Barton County, noticed I was always around. He asked me what I wanted to do when I got out of college. I said I wanted to be a coach in some capacity, and he said why don’t you come up and join me next year… It wasn’t an easy road. There were so many things to overcome.
My first year at Wabash Valley, I lived in the dorm with the players and drove international students around the campus, six or seven times a say. I started at 6 a.m. and finished at 5 p.m. The pay was about $5,000. The No. 2 value meal at McDonald’s was all I ate. I was 24 hours short of my degree when I went up there. I figured this was my only chance. I had gotten things set up for independent study… And I started finishing up when I was coaching there. Then Coach Smith left. He was going to Barton, and he said, “I can’t take you with me — you don’t have a college degree.” So I went to Olney Central, which was about 30 minutes away, doing the same thing. I was painting during the day and I coached basketball in the evening. After about three months, Dan Sparks at Vincennes, told me to come over. I was a tutor — that’s how I got paid — of all things. I got everything done from my first year at Wabash done. But I was still three hours short. There was a three-hour class that never made numbers, kept being dropped. I was a physical education major and the last class was teaching and instructing dance — I didn’t know a thing about it. But it was my third year, in three different places, and I still didn’t have a degree… It was the last semester, and I had to get my degree. From Vincennes, Ind., to Richmond, Ky., is about a 250-mile drive one way. Three times a week, I’d make the drive.
Here’s where the story gets crazy. I was a janitor at Vincennes. I was on campus from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. I’d get in my car — a 1988 Ford Festiva I paid $1,000 for — and drive four hours to Richmond, Ky., which is in a different time zone, for a 10 a.m. class. I’d get back at 7 a.m. The 1988 Ford Festiva, every 100 miles, it burnt a quart of oil. I’d have to put in a quart every 100 miles. So, I paid my dues, to say the least. I ended up going to Odessa. I was there for three years, and then John (Pelphrey) offered me a job at South Alabama for five years. I told him the story I just told you and he said, “Anyone willing to work that hard can work for me.” And when Frank got the job, I’ve always said I wanted to coach with someone I’m friends with… Here, when the business part ends (at the end of a day), the friendship begins. That’s the most important thing. Nothing is ever personal.
3. How is recruiting junior college kids different than high school kids? Or is it?
Recruiting junior college kids is not as much of a hassle, more to to the point. When you recruit a junior college kid, it’s the coach and the kid. In high school, it’s the AAU coach, and whoever else is giving them advice. In JUCO, the players are swept to the side. They’re the type that doesn’t get the publicity, so they’re humbled. They have to ride in vans, drive to games on gameday… Those kids, to have the opportunity to be recruited by the Big 12.. It’s easier. But when a kid has Big 12 talent, and he’s available late, everyone gets in. So, it’s the cycle all over again.
The thing is, there are probably only 10-12 kids that can truly play and be impact players in the Big 12. Now, way more than that will be signed, but only 10 will have a major impact. They have to be able to adjust to play in the Big 12. Their talent level has to be so good to overcome the adjustment period… I think guards have the easiest transition. It’s not as physical on them. But a 6-foot-8 kid in junior college, he doesn’t get the proper nutrition and conditioning… Physically, a kid at K-State for two years is going to be stronger than a kid who does not have that, especially as a junior coming out of junior college.
4. Who is the best player you coached? What made him the best?
Shawn Marion is obviously the best. What was so great about Shawn, who we got out of Clarksville, Tenn., was that his energy and work ethic was tremendous. But what made Shawn special was that he was a better human being — he was just a good old country kid from Clarksville, Tenn., that grew three inches over the summer. I realized he was a great junior college player. He basically did the same things Mike (Beasley) is doing at the junior college level. The first time I saw he had a chance to be special was when we were working Michael Jordan’s camp. He was playing pick-up with the counselors and against Jordan. This was 1996, 1997, when Jordan was still winning championships. Shawn was lacing them up with him, he was guarding Mike, and he belonged on the court. His sophomore year, every NBA scout wandered into Vincennes. It was all about he and Steve (Francis, who played at Allegheny). There were three junior college kids taken in the top 12 of the NBA Draft that year, Francis was second and Shawn was No. 9. It has never happened since. Since then, prep schools have taken over, and the landscape has changed dramatically… Shawn was probably the best player I ever coached, and Mike has some of those same attributes. I think Mike is a tremendous kid. He’s a happy-go-lucky kid, a great teammate, and there is no selfish bone in his body. He’s not a finger-pointer, and he can handle coaching.
5. Where is Matt Figger in five years? Ten years? What are your career goals?
Obviously, I’d like the opportunity to be a head coach. But it’s not something I sit and dwell on. I’ve been fortunate to get to this spot. I don’t think about ever taking a step back. If there is an opportunity (to be a head coach), it would be a career goal of mine. if someone told me five years from now I’d still be at Kansas State, I’d be fine with that. Because if I’m still here, that means we’re doing something right.
(BONUS) 6. In your estimation, can Kansas State basketball be a power once again?
It starts with the administration. With (K-State president Jon) Wefald. I’ve not been all over the world, but there is no president in this country more committed to having great athletics than Jon Wefald… 17,500 in the Sprint Center? That rivals programs like Kentucky or North Carolina. Only Kentucky can play in some other venue and sell the place out… The fan support, commitment, everything is here. It’s our job to continue to grow, and we have to hit on the things that are positive. I know every kid that we have brought in for a visit has been impressed by all of the passion and purple… Our fans are some of the most passionate in the country. They’re as big of a part of the game as the players are. In my opinion, if you’re a true basketball person, why wouldn’t you want to come to Kansas State?
I GOT FIVE ON IT … Fatima Smith
Nov. 8, 200712:08 p.m.
Not just good stuff today from Ma-B-Ez - and by the way, if anyone has seen Mrs. Smith’s license plate, she still wants it back - but great stuff. Mike Beasley’s mom agreed to be this week’s “Five,” and rumor has it she might make a few more visits here at “K-Stated.” But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
I think you’re going to like her candor and insight. If you see her at tomorrow night’s game, wish her a “Happy Birthday” - it was Tuesday, and she told me she was turning 30.
She’s a funny lady. She got rolling, so we went with a few extra questions, and I’m sure you all won’t mind. Special thanks again to ‘clams, who did the hard part, which was submitting questions.
1. What is something about Mike that no one else knows?
Off of the top of my head I would say that the one thing which MOST people don’t know about Lil’ Mike is that he’s afraid of the dark. Yep, you got it, Big, Macho Mike is afraid of the dark! To this day he will not stay in the house alone unless every light in the house is on. Chances are that if you see him outside after dark more often then not he’s probably not alone or he’s in a well-lit area…go figure!
2. Does Mike have any contact with his paternal father? Has he tried to latch onto Mike’s fame?
Now this is a “doubleheader.” Lil’ Mike’s dad (Big Mike) contacts him periodically to see how things are going just as a normal parent would. As for him latching on… I wouldn’t quite call it that. He’s just proud of the accomplishments that his son has made and absolutely loves his bragging rights on his name sake!
3. Are your other children interested in sports?
Now it’s time for me to introduce the other members of my official “starting five,” let me go down the list…
Dymond (Leroy), age 20 – Dymond was the star of his high school basketball team as a senior and he was actually pretty good. Now his love for the sport is pretty much recreational. He loves to shoot around and play one on one with Lil’ Mike and some of the other guys from the K-State men’s basketball team.
Mychaela, age 16 - Now before we moved to Manhattan you would have thought that Mychaela made her own sport of how long can she stay on the computer, phone and watch T.V. at the same time… Now she’s going to be the next “Flo-Jo” and try out for the track team at MHS.
Malik, age 9 - Malik is a very rambunctious little boy. His first love is bowling but he also likes basketball, football, soccer and baseball, too, in that order.
Tiffany, age 3 - Tiffany’s sport is definitely to see how fast she can make me pull out my hair, strand by strand. She gives a new meaning to the term “Daddy’s Girl.”
4. How do you handle the criticism that Mike is undisciplined and/or immature?
At first, just like with any parent, I would be offended because he is still one of my babies, no matter how big he is. But then I realized that people will say anything about anybody. I believe that Lil’ Mike’s being immature was attributed to him being a prankster, although his pranks could be very annoying to most. As far as him being undisciplined, that is just a blatant untruth if I ever did hear one. He gets grounded just like any other average kid, trust me…
5. At what age was Mike when you realized he was going to be really good at basketball?
When Lil’ Mike was either 14 or15 years old his AAU summer league team, D.C. Assault, in the boys’ 16-U national championship game, coached by David Cox, against the D-1 Greyhounds featuring O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker (that was actually the first time I’ve ever heard of that duo). D.C. Assault only had six players that were able to travel with them at the time, one of the other players was Lil’ Mike’s best friend, Nolan Smith (now a freshman at Duke). Nolan’s mother, Monica Smith-Malone (J-Mart note: Monica is married to Curtis Malone, the D.C. Assault founder) and I were on pins and needles all week but they actually pulled off the “W” and brought home the gold. It was one of the greatest feelings in the world to know that our boys were able to go the distance with less than half of their teammates on a national platform.
Another indication would be what seems to be countless pages of information, links and photos from doing a Google search.
(BONUS) 6. How do you handle the pressure that comes along with being the mother of a very soon to be multi-millionaire?
If I may, I would change the word “pressure” to “responsibility.” Now, how I handle the responsibility of anything dealing with Lil’ Mike is the same as I do for all of my children. I have a close circle of friends and family that I trust/know like the back of my hand and I discuss all matters with them before making any final decisions about my kids, in particular my sister Mona.
(BONUS) 7. Aside from No. 30, who is your second favorite Wildcat on this year’s team and why?
First of all, who says No. 30 is my favorite? I’m just kidding - of course he’s my favorite! This is a difficult question because I consider the whole team my “boys” so to speak, especially the freshmen. I have an open home to them all, if they just want to get away from the “college life” scene and get a home cooked meal, do some laundry, watch T.V. or just plain sleep. But if I had to pick a second favorite, it would have to be both of Lil’ Mike’s Sunday Morning Brunch partners at my house, who are:
Bill Walker, because I’ve grown closer to him since we have been here, especially since he and Lil’ Mike are dorm mates and I have also followed Bill’s high school and AAU careers over the years. He really has a great personality, even though he drives me absolutely crazy sometimes.
And Ron Anderson, because he a fellow D.C. Assault “brother.” Ron is a gentle giant and fun to have around. I like to hear how excited he gets when he speaks about all of his accomplishments that he has made since arriving here at KSU and the goals that he has set for his immediate future.
(BONUS) 8. And, of course, is it true you’re going to be submitting a weekly entry for K-Stated called “Mama Sayz…”?
Absolutely! I have been called on so be sure to check back next week to hear what “Mama Sayz”!
I GOT FIVE ON IT… Montrell McDonald
Nov. 1, 20074:35 p.m.
You always hear about kids having offense-ready games for Division I basketball, but what about defense? That’s what’s so intriguing about Cowley County Community College guard/forward Montrell McDonald. The 6-foot-6 McDonald is a sophomore for the Tigers, who are opening their season tonight in Bethany, Okla., against Southern Nazarene JV. McDonald, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, began his college career at George Washington University, the seventh man on a team that was ranked in the Top 10 for most of the year. In 20 games with the Colonials, McDonald averaged 4.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. He added 12 steals and five blocks, but also 28 turnovers and 38 fouls.
What does it all mean? I asked McDonald, who is being recruited by K-State.
1. Where do you stand with K-State and why? Who else is in the picture? When is a decision coming?
I’m interested in them, but I haven’t made any decisions yet. Oregon, Kansas, Colorado, Miami and Iowa. .. I haven’t been up there yet, but I plan on going up. Our season begins tonight, so I’ll probably go up at the end of the year. (J-Mart question: So that’s when you’re going to make a decision?) Yes.
2. Impressions of Frank Martin and the staff?
My impression, from the conversations I’ve had, is he’s a great guy, someone who is ready to help you move on and be successful.
3. Why did you leave George Washington?
I was a little homesick, going through a lot of personal problems. (J-Mart note: Cowley coach Steve Eck said McDonald was concerned about his ailing grandmother, whose condition has improved.) I was going through things where it wasn’t the place for me. (Coach Karl Hobbs) is a good guy, but at the time. … That was a great team to be a part of.
4. Coach Eck said you weren’t like anyone he’s coached in his 31 years on the bench, but he also said that he’s heard others compare you to Stacey Augmon, the former UNLV star known for his defense. Do you know who that is, and is that accurate? Or is it just one of those things because you’re both thin, athletic and left-handed?
I’ve heard about him, but I don’t know him personally. I’ve seen a few of his highlights. (J-Mart question: Are you similar?) Yeah, we’re similar. I just play hard on both ends of the court. I like to get out on the break and do whatever it takes to help the team win.
5. This is a little weird, but bear with me. How would you stop Montrell McDonald? What are your strengths and weaknesses, and how would you, as a defender, attack each?
I might play off a little bit, but it depends on certain situations. If I hit a few shots, I might sag. If I missed a few, I’d be up. Usually, I’m up on someone if I don’t know what they’ve got. Most schools are excited more about what I can do on the defensive end. They know with hard work I can get there on offense.
(BONUS) 6. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? One thing not a lot of people are aware of?
I watch “Walker, Texas Ranger.” (Laughter) When I was younger, I always hung around elderly people and they were watching it, so I did. I watch it with my coach now. (More laughter).
ALSO
- Eck said McDonald sat out last season. He attended Redlands (Okla.) Community College in the second semester, where Eck was coaching, but did not play basketball. As for McDonald’s decision to leave GWU, Eck said, “Sometimes you go too far from home right out of high school.”
- According to the coach, McDonald is “very quick. He can guard, and his jump shot is getting better and better. … He’s a solid guy on the court. He’ll go out there and play hard all of the time. When he goes hard, he’s pretty darn good.” McDonald is viewed as a leader instantly, Eck said, because he has played Division I basketball already. “He knows what it takes to get there,” the coach said. “He’s liked by his teammates. He’s not a bad kid. He’s a good kid.”
- The entire K-State coaching staff is involved in McDonald’s recruitment, Eck said.