– Kirk Seminoff

Hey, its Mychaela! Unfortunately you wont be hearing from my mother since somehow she got me to write the blog this week. Had a bit of a writer’s block but I guess I’ll start from here…

Last Sunday we went to Zuckey Bowl and had a party for my little brother Malik. And of course, Mike and a few of the other players had come to join. I had a lot of fun, especially watching my mother attempt to bowl. Michael cheated most of the time because of the simple fact that his score wasn’t higher than everyone else’s. But in the end, we all enjoyed ourselves. And a secret that I bet no one else knows is that Jacob Pullen is a very good bowler…

I finally received my learner’s permit earlier this week. I was so excited to come home and show my mother and the rest of the family. But I think they are a little afraid of me driving after having to teach me how to ride my scooter. I think that’s why Dymond has been putting off giving me lessons. But don’t worry, I’ll learn…

As you all know, on Friday we took a trip to Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament. Malik and I weren’t able to watch the game in the gym. But we did get to find out what college basketball is really like by visiting the College Basketball Experience. I actually had a good time for a person who doesn’t enjoy playing the sport at all. I participated in my first 3-point shootout, which actually wasn’t that bad.

Spring break started and I was so ready for it. My uncle came to town for the tournament, but since our trip got cut short he came to Manhattan to see how we were doing since we left the East coast. So we showed him around our little town and, of course, my mother had to take him past the K-State Super Store (as she does with all our visitors)

I made another trip back to Kansas City Sunday morning to pick up my cousin Jakira. She’s a bit younger than me but every time we get together the party begins. Like yesterday – we took another trip to the bowling alley. And it was so much fun. I actually invited Malik to tag along with me and my friends. But who knows what we have planned for the rest of the week.

(J-MART NOTE: But hold on, just when things were going smoothly…)

Well, folks, I thought I was going to be too busy to do a blog this week with everything going on as far as the tournament. Since Mychaela has been wanting try out her skills, I asked her if she wanted to give it a try and she leaped at the opportunity… Not too bad, but we all must remember that this is “Mama Sayz”! Let me just elaborate on the topics that she touched on…

Yes, we did celebrate Malik’s 10th birthday with a party at Zuckey Bowl in Manhattan. It actually almost didn’t happen because of the long drive back from the Iowa State game. The only thing that kept me driving was imagining the disappointed look on Malik’s face, and the thought of him complaining once again that “I’m not meeting his needs…” So I pushed on. My XM radio failed me so I was left with scanning the AM frequencies, looking for a sports channel of some sort so I could listen to the North Carolina-Duke game. All I could find was some high school games and another station talking about politics – YUCK! So my ride was even longer because Malik and Tiffany were in the back of the car playing video games and watching DVDs with their headphones on. To avoid being in total silence, I just listened to Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott & Beyonce, my favorite trio of female singers, all the way home.

Waking up the next morning, I felt robbed! Getting home after midnight and losing an hour of sleep due to daylight savings time, I was really not in the mood for anything outside of the house but I suddenly remembered that I ordered a yellow sheet birthday cake with butter cream icing – my favorite, by the way – and that was all the motivation I needed. So after everyone was ready, we were off to Zuckey Bowl to get our party on! We had two lanes – one for Malik and the birthday party kids that had bumpers on the sides and one for the rest of us who didn’t need the bumpers – or so I thought! Lil’ Mike started complaining from the very beginning. First that his shoes didn’t fit right, next was, “Why is my name listed as Lil’ Mike when I’m bigger than Big Mike?” and then he wanted to know why the little kids get to have bumpers when they clearly didn’t need them – not more than he did, anyway. And to top it off, when he realized that he was the worst person listed on our side, he decided to even things up by cheating… When it was Jake’s turn to bowl, Lil’ Mike would roll a ball down the lane to knock Jake’s ball. When Dymond or Ron Anderson took a turn, Mike would come from behind and bump into them or pull on the opposite arm. I had to bowl by looking over my shoulder because Lil’ Mike just wouldn’t lose by himself. He even marched all the way down to the pins to throw a ball and even though he knocked a few pins over it didn’t register because the lane sensors detected a CHEATER on the premises. Even though Mychaela tried to make a joke about my bowling, she definitely doesn’t know what she was talking about because I do recall getting a couple of strikes and some spares. All in all it was a lot of fun just to hang out with the kids even though we couldn’t figure out won the game but we could definitely tell who LOST!

Yeah, Mychaela came home with the slip of paper stating that she can go to DMV to obtain a learner’s permit… Well, let’s just say that I folded it up and tucked it into my wallet for safe keeping. That’s one adventure that I’m not too eager to tackle at this point. For her 16th birthday, we got her a cute little pink motor scooter that she has ridden maybe three times. And when we had to teach her how to ride that, whewww! Let’s just put it this way… BIKE FOR SALE! (lol!)

By now, we all know the outcome of the Big 12 Tournament. We were in, then we were out! Enough said. Since we didn’t have enough tickets for our entire group of people to attend the Texas A&M game, we decided to rotate by letting Mychaela and Malik go to the CBE. Mychaela brought her camera but neglected to remember the battery, which was back in Manhattan charging so their memories were not captured. During Saturday’s game, Calvin and Tiffany were going to try to find some tickets to make room for Mychaela and Malik. Well, that plan was cut short by DeAndre (Jordan) and the TAMU gang… Oh well, better luck next year!

We headed back to Manhattan Saturday morning and brought one of my baby brothers, Arty, and his girlfriend, Keysha, back home with us. They came in for the Big 12 Tournament and decided what the heck, let’s head west. Yeah, I did my usual just as Kayla stated. We hit the GTM store. Why not? Everyone wants to represent K-State and what better place is there to find the latest purple fashions? They stayed overnight and I made breakfast in the morning. Since it was Keysha’s birthday, I suggested getting a yellow cake with butter cream icing (imagine that!) and by disguising it with “Happy Birthday Keysha” no one would ever know it was really for me! I thought that was really clever, if I must say so myself…

If anyone ever saw me with Arty, they would have to do a double take. He’s about 5-foot-3 and I’m 5-foot-11. He gets all of that height from our mother, who is a whopping 5-foot-1. Go figure. Growing up, he used to get so mad because I was taller than him, mostly because he loves basketball with a passion. But I couldn’t help it if he fell in the wrong end of the gene pool. He’s the family compact giant… LOL!

Well, I still have one house guest. My niece Jakira is in town visiting for spring break. For someone visiting for only a week, her bags look as full as they did when she came out here for the summer to keep Mychaela company. I need to check to make sure that my other brother Johnny did purchase a round-trip ticket… But it’s all good. I love to have her over any time because she occupies Mychaela. Oh, and by the way… There’s no partying going on… Hope you’re reading this, Kayla – NO PARTYING!

O.K., I’m going to reply to a few comments this week so here we go…

FROM: Nick
WHEN: March 7, 2008

I believe the rumors that go around are started by KU people hoping to get you and Mike frustrated enough to leave KSU! KU fears Mike, as well as they should, so it is great seeing them shake in their boots. Anyway, I think in 3 years when Mike is done with college and goes to the NBA you should keep doing “Mama Sayz” so that we can hear about his NBA stories. I don’t like the NBA but I will definitely follow his career and the careers of the rest of the Wildcats! Go State!

Nick,
Rumors are just that… rumors. Some people live for them and others get hurt by them. I take them for what they are worth, which is nothing! At the least they can be entertaining, I guess. Don’t worry, I plan on writing “Mama Sayz” for quite a long time, with some changes later down the line…

FROM: Damaris
WHEN: March 7, 2008

Just wanted to say thank you to all of the KSU basketball players, coaches and staff as well as the great KSU fans we met while in Manhattan. Max, Grace and I really appreciated the warm welcome we got and loved being part of Senior Night.
Go Cats!

Awww!
Damaris, you sound like you’re getting a little SENTIMENTAL! Quit it! LOL! I’m glad you and the kids enjoyed yourselves… Come back anytime, really…

FROM: Alan
WHEN: March 7, 2008

Mrs. Smith,
Thank you for sharing your time and treasure with us in Manhattan, Kansas. It has been a tremendous experience for my family and I to watch Mike play ball in Bramlage for the past few months. Whatever next year holds, we hope that it works out best for you and your entire family.

I wanted to catch Mike after the Colorado game; but know it has to get tiring having to sign your name endlessly. Having said that – sorry this is coming – is there any way I could get Mike to sign a card for my daughter – she wants to take it to show-and-tell — and sign her dad’s #30 KSU jersey – he wants to hang it on his wall forever — ??? Sorry, I shouldn’t have waited until the last game to try and I know the both of you have a TON on your plate without worrying about stuff like this. If it’s not possible, don’t worry… We won’t forget watching him play this season, and we thank you and your family for sharing that with us.

Alan,
I am sorry that you didn’t get the opportunity to meet Lil’ Mike personally. Try contacting the basketball office to see if it is willing to set up an end of the season autograph signing for ALL of the players… Just a suggestion, not a promise.

FROM: Marcus
WHEN: March 7, 2008

This is the first time I’ve read a “Mama Sayz” segment. It is a powerful reflection on why Lil’ Mike is the kind of person that people like to be around. It’s obvious that Mama’s family is her No. 1 passion. Mrs. Smith, you are a wonderful role model. It’s no accident that your kids have turned out to be the citizens that they are. Stand up and take a bow. You deserve it!

Now, I’m going to blush! No, seriously, I consider it a honor to share my family with everyone and to be appreciated for doing something such as taking care of your family makes it so worth it.

FROM: Kato Tarver
WHEN: March 8, 2008

Fatima,
Just wanted give you kudos (!!!) on the great job you’re doing with your blog. I read it all, and the stories are warming and hilarious as anyone knowing would expect. It’s great to see you and the family having fun in the Little Apple.

KATOOOO!!!
Where have you been? My contact information is still the same… Reach out. I hope that you are doing well and I’m glad that you are reading “Mama Sayz.”

FROM: KSUfan4ever
WHEN: March 14, 2008

Hi there! I’m new to your blog and I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading about your family. Being a K-State student I’ve always enjoyed football season but your son has made me a HUGE basketball fan! It’s always great to see you and your family supporting Mike at the games, too. But I was wondering… What kind of camera do you have? I’m looking for a new one and yours takes great pictures. Thanks! GO STATE!

Welcome aboard! I love my camera, too! I got it from Best Buy (with the two-year accidental warranty plan, I should add). It is called the Panasonic Lumix. It has 28mm wide angle lens and – get this – it zooms 10x. I love this camera. I take some great shots of the Wildcat bench from our seats at Bramlage, which are right near the tunnel entrance. Love it, love it, love it! I barely am caught without it… That’s why the guys in the basketball department call me the PAPARAZZI!

And we’re back, NCAA Tournament, Omaha-style!

I know this is an extremely long entry but since I haven’t submitted to J-Mart yet (I know he would have held it hostage anyway because he is busy with tournament stuff… What nerve!) I figured I’d add a few more things to it while sitting by the pool watching Tiffany and Malik pretend they are pirates.

I don’t know why but the true impact of the win over USC has fully hit me yet. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great win and with that being said, it’s always good to see the guys in purple pull out a “W.” There were so many people there to support both teams but, of course, the purple drowned out the crimson red. It was still no different then a win at Bramlage. Now I feel as though I’m being held hostage in Omaha because there is not much for me to do here… Boy, do I miss Manhattan! That is familiar territory for me. I just like being able to know where I’m going without my GPS. I want to be able to lounge in my bed without someone asking me to leave so that they can make up the bed that I’m going to get right back into. What’s the purpose? Why couldn’t we have another game today like they used to do when Lil’ Mike played AAU ball with the D.C. Assault? Oh well, the NCAA makes the rules and all we can do is live by them, right? I wish I could find a mall here with a shoe store so I could buy some some cute little red pumps, click my heels and magically return to Manhattan… There’s no place like home!

This morning the kids and I had breakfast with Luke (Winn) from S.I. and I must say that they were on their best behavior. So fortunately I don’t have any food fight stories for you.

I’ve been keeping in touch with Monica Smith-Malone, mother of Duke’s Nolan Smith, and Kim Jordan, mother of Texas A&M’s DeAndre Jordan, throughout the game by text messaging so that we could know what’s going on with our boys’ games. We all had nail-biters but we all came out on top. Yeah! To be perfectly honest, I love the rush you get when the games are so close and at the very last second when the final buzzer rings and we are the WINNERS! There’s nothing like it.

Well, after reading the local papers and surfing the internet I think I’m going to drag my two pirates out of the pool and look for the Pullens and hang out a little bit. So I’m going to end this for now. Oh, before I go, I need to know from EVERYONE if you want me to continue blogging after the basketball season is over. I mean, I don’t want to interfere with other sports and maybe another parent of another sport would like take the torch. (J-MART NOTE: Oh, I don’t think we’re going to be doing this with anyone else.) Just throwing that out there. If so, I will and I’ll provide that e-mail address I mentioned in an earlier “Mama Sayz.”

Oh, one more thing, I want to say thanks to one of my co-workers. Without her, this NCAA run through Omaha might not have been possible. You see, Mrs. Judy Thoman and her husband Del were able to baby-sit my precious little Ss. Thanks so much, Judy, and NO, you can’t keep my puppy, no matter how cute she is! LOL!

OK, that’s all (as if it wasn’t enough) from Ms. Smith for today. I wanted to pass along that she is having a nodule on her thyroid removed today at 1:30 p.m. at Manhattan Mercy. She doesn’t seem too concerned about it, but she doesn’t want visitors. But if you wanted to send a card, or flowers, I’m guessing she’d be cool with that.

Mrs. Smith is still employed.

Where do these rumors get started? Anyway, here’s an extra, extra-long edition of “Mama Sayz,” and she’s gone a little crazy with the pictures. She loves the pictures. But it’s all good:

I’m never at a loss for words BUT this week’s edition has been one of the toughest things to do. I have so many things that I want to say but I couldn’t figure out how to get it jump-started. So when I came in to work this morning (oh, by the way I hope this comment put to rest the rumors that I have QUIT my job) and my co-worker, Mrs. Lazy Bones herself a.k.a. Lucy, yelled out, “Hey, where’s that ‘Mama Sayz,’ you kook!” I turned around and screamed back to her, “I don’t know how to get it started – UGHHHH!” (J-MART NOTE: Writer’s block is a … problem) She said, “YOU? You’re never at a loss for words… That’s a first!” Then ta-da! “Mama Sayz” has been saved once again… Now let’s catch up, and boy, do we have a lot to cover!

If I remember correctly, our last meeting stated the Malone family was heading to town and it did. It is always fun to visit with the folks from back east and this was no different. From what I could see Monica enjoyed her birthday in the Little Apple and was very excited to see Lil’ Mike play in the “Big Monday” game against Texas, even if it didn’t quite turn out the way we wanted. Tiffany was even more thrilled to spend time with her twin, Sydney (Mr. Malone’s stepdaughter) and didn’t want to leave her side because she knew Sydney would eventually head back to her life outside of Manhattan, Kan. Ms. Tiff had a double dose of visitors because Daddy’s brother, Uncle Brian, was also in town and he spoiled her ROTTEN! She could do no wrong in his eyes and I’ll tell it like I tell her… She’s the strongest little four-year-old in the world because she can lift two full-grown men (Daddy included) with her itty, bitty pinky finger!

Before the game I met lots of fans while waiting in line and there were two little boys who came all the way from South Dakota, if I remember correctly who recognized me (imagine that). They asked if they could take a picture with me because I am “Lil’ Mike’s Mom.” I agreed but only if I could take a picture with them because they were such great fans, and they agreed as well. I hope they get a chance to read this and find a way to contact with me.

If anyone saw me at the Texas game taking pictures with two cameras like I was a crazed woman, that’s because Bruce from the basketball office insisted that I take pics for him and I had to use his camera and not mine… He can be VERY demanding at times and I normally put up such a fuss when it comes to him, but what he doesn’t know is I enjoy arguing with him so that I could get on his nerves. I think it works, too. It was pretty interesting to see the MIKE ON THE STICKS all over the arena and, of course, I had to play the “guess who’s behind this mask” game with Tiffany, which gets sort of ridiculous seeing as how there aren’t many kids her height who would tap me on the shoulder saying, “Mommy, guess who’s behind this mask…” But, as usual, I name everybody under the sun except her until she pops from behind the mask yelling, “Surprise! I tricked you!” Yeah, right!

While I was speaking to one of the ESPN reporters, I had a surprise visit from my “Cookie Fairy” complete with the recipe. She should be happy to see that the “Cookie Monster” a.k.a. Mr. Beasley, found the stash and didn’t want to share!

Remember a month or so ago when I told everyone how Malik said I “need to meet his needs?” Well, every time I go to take a picture of him he always seems to be stuffing something in his mouth, and when he doesn’t want to share his goodies with his little sister, he goes and finds an empty seat anywhere he can in Bramlage just to avoid her begging. He then appears out of nowhere a half later… Now that’s funny! By the way, he’s 10 years old today so HAPPY BIRTHDAY, big boy! Hope your needs are still being met, sweetie! LOL!

If you like Italian food, you’ll love this restaurant in downtown Manhattan called Della Voce. (J-MART NOTE: And now she’s conducting restaurant reviews – amazing) The atmosphere in this place is simply amazing. It was large enough to accommodate a business dinner, yet small enough to have an intimate dinner for two. You could have a drink at the bar while watching the plasma TV or simply relax in the lounge area and absorb the ambience of this special little place. And the owner and waitresses were so polite and elegant that I even thought twice about leaving a few kids behind hoping that some of it would rub off on them. This place was nice, so go check it out!

I went to the “PHOG” and to be honest I didn’t expect our seats to be the greatest but really now… DID THEY HAVE TO PUT US ON THE ROOF? I took picture of the view we had from our actual seats and outside of the seating arrangements (and the outcome of the game, of course) the whole “Lawrence experience” wasn’t too bad at all. I had the honor of meeting the famous parents of J-Mart and they were so down to earth and fun to hang out with… I think I’m going to adopt them! LOL! A good friend from the D.C. area told me about this cute little restaurant on Mass. Ave called Ingredient and it was everything he said it would be. Now I have a reason to visit Lawrence on my drive to and from Kansas City. There were various Wildcat and even Jayhawk fans (imagine that) from all walks of life who were just walking down the crowded streets of Lawrence, sitting in a low-key restaurant or observing the museum associated with Allen Fieldhouse who just randomly came up to me and said how much they have enjoyed watching Lil’ Mike play this year, wishing him well in whatever decisions he makes regarding his future. How they knew who I am is a mystery to me… Maybe it had something to do with how F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S I looked sporting my beautiful Wildcat purple – MEOW! (I crack myself up!) Overall, it was a nice experience.

Sunday was supposed to be my day of rest. I snuck out of the house alone to do my errands and somehow I was stuck with Miss Tiffany after meeting she and Calvin for breakfast at IHOP. I figure, what the heck? How much could she really slow me down, right? Well, that was the original thought until we got to Target and she wanted to try on every shoe that was on her eye level, which wasn’t a real problem. The problem came when we got to the register and she announced that she only had one of her shoes that she had come into the store with. I backtracked through every department that we had been in and could not find that shoe ANYWHERE! There was even an announcement made twice to the employees to check their areas for the small shoe and still there was nothing. Just before given up and tossing the one shoe she had in the trash on the way out the door I decided to go back to the shoe department and get on my hands and knees which brought me down to Tiffany’s eye level. While crawling, I searched the boxes sitting on the shelves, one by one, and there it was! I found it! Someone had come by and stuffed her used Adidas in the box with another shoe, which was the same color just to get it out of the way… Smart!

On Monday, Lil’ Mike, Darren and Jacob went to Malik’s school to help celebrate Dr. Seuss’s 104th birthday. One of Malik’s classmates read “Green Eggs and Ham” as Darren held the book while the others looked on. Afterwards they went to the gym to shoot a few baskets to help the fifth-grade class collect data for a math project.

Oh, let me see how many people can remember this — back in one of the earlier editions of “Mama Sayz,” I made a comment about me having to share friends with my sister, Mona. I’m not sure if I mentioned that I have only had very few friends (before moving here, of course) that did not come by way of Mona. Well, my good friend, Damaris, and her kids, Max (14) and Grace (11), came out to see me. It was soooo much fun hanging out with her and the kids. Of course, I had to take them to the GTM store to pick up some game attire and we had lunch at B.W.W (of course) and toured Bramlage. They were very excited. The next time I see her, I’ll do all of the driving…and I’ll just leave it at that.

Senior night at Bramlage was really touching. Clent and Stephanie were engaged, and it was one of the sweetest moments ever! Congrats guys! All of the fans saluted David, Blake, and James. It was very emotional. As the game started, I observed the numerous signs about Lil’ Mike returning for another year and there were countless people coming over to say how much they have enjoyed watching Lil’ Mike this year. I would like to say to everyone, “Thanks for having him!” When the announcement was made that Lil’ Mike had broken the Big 12 double-double record, it was at that very moment that I glanced up and saw him running towards the opposite end of the court and for the first time I really felt how surreal this has been. In a quick 30 seconds, the journey of how he arrived at that very moment suddenly flashed before my eyes and I sort of smiled to myself and thought, “WOW, he’s really special.”

At the end of the game there were numerous fans who were waiting on the players to come out for autographs and I met the most adorable little girl named Cooper who didn’t want anything but to give me a hand-made card she’d made for Lil’ Mike. I want you to know it put a smile on his face when I told him about you and handed him the card.

FROM: steve dave
WHEN: Feb. 24, 2008

Excellent photos, really good work.

SD,
Thanks, this sure is a lot of work but it’s so much fun! I’m glad you are enjoying the photos.

FROM: thekstater
WHEN: Feb. 25, 2008

Mom, how did mike get so good? How often did he practice? How many hours a day? Did you send him to camps when he was little, or did he just play on his own for hours? Did he have coaches?

Thanks,
TheKstater

Lil’ Mike was a late bloomer. He really didn’t get started with organized basketball until his early teens, and that includes going to camps. Once he got into it, he started making small goals for himself. The more accomplished he became, he more goals he set. He’s very dedicated to his game and the number of hours that he spent practicing is uncountable. Even though he never played his father in a game of basketball and he never witnessed his father play a game, I want to believe that he got his talent naturally from his dad. His dad is 6-foot-6 and when he was Lil’ Mike’s age he weighed approximately 225 pounds, and he was very, very good. His coaches are the same coaches of the D.C. Assault organization. I hope that was helpful.

FROM: MommaKat
WHEN: Feb. 25, 2008

Mama,
What do you think it would take to keep Lil’ Mike at KSU for another year? Do you think that the possibility of attaining a national title would do it?

MommaKat,
We really don’t talk about Lil’ Mike leaving KSU. When the time comes for us to have a conversation, we will consider all options and make that decision as a family.

FROM: OlatheCat
WHEN: Feb. 25, 2008

Just one question this week, Mama. What size shoe does Mike wear? Inquiring minds want to know!

Olathe,
Let me tell you a funny story. When Lil’ Mike was about 13 years old, he told me that his shoes were too small and that his feet hurt. It was at that time that he started growing like a weed, so naturally I believed him. Since I was a single mom, I only bought shoes for the kids out of necessity and not just because they wanted the newest shoe that hit the stores — and Michael knew this. Since I had just recently bought him a pair of shoes not long before he started complaining, I knew that Foot Locker didn’t have anything bigger than what he had on his feet, which was a size 14 at the time. I turned to the Internet and found that Eastbay had large-size shoes so I ordered him the next size up. It seemed like every month he was complaining, so I kept ordering them bigger and bigger. It got to the point where I was ordering two pairs at a time in the next size — then the next size after that so that I could be prepared for the next complaint. The largest size that I ordered was a size 22. After he joined the D.C. Assault program, they had his feet measured properly (I was using a ruler because the foot measures in the store were way too small) and that’s when I found out Michael was only complaining because he knew that was the only way he would get a new pair of shoes. He didn’t care about how big they were just as long as they were new… With all of that being said, he only wears a size 18 to walk around in and size 19 to play in.

FROM: 3DCat
WHEN: Feb. 28, 2008

Mama,
I hope you found the recipe in the bottom on the bag. If you missed it, just let me know. Your stories and pictures are great fun. We dearly appreciate you.

Jennifer,
I did find the recipe and I thank you so much. As you can see from the pictures, the Cookie Monster found the cookies!

FROM: ssf
WHEN: Feb. 29, 2008

We miss you on the bulletin boards. You posted fairly frequently on the Charlotte boards and then on the KSU boards and now almost nothing. Did the athletic department tell you to stop or did you just get annoyed and bored with it?

First, let me say that NO ONE TELLS ME WHAT TO DO OR NOT DO! I am not annoyed with the boards, either. I still surf them periodically. I just observe as a guest 99% of the time because I don’t have time to interact with the posters properly, and I don’t want to come off as being rude if I don’t reply to someone. If I sign on as myself, it usually is during a slow traffic time. Besides, I have five kids, a full-time job, this blog, a list of household chores (J-MART NOTE: I appreciate that “K-Stated” comes before the household chores), a cat, a dog, and a partridge in a pear tree! With all of this and trying to fit in Wildcats basketball (including travel) and a teen-aged daughter who’s taking on a new sport (track), I could probably start posting on the message boards again if I give up two of the five hours of sleep I get each night… Tough call, huh?

FROM: beasFan
WHEN: March 1, 2008

I am a big KSU fan and was disappointed to see them lose again. But anyways, I noticed that Mike has a lot of tattoos. I was just wondering, how many does he have and what do they represent or symbolize?

Lil’ Mike’s tattoos symbolize family. Even though there are a lot, none of them are disrespectful in any way.

FROM: Tim Archer
WHEN: March 5, 2008

Fatima,
It has been great reading your blog and speaking with you and your family this year. I will be cheering on the cats from home the rest of the way. Thank Michael for all the time he has given the fans this year and being so gracious with autographs. He didn’t come out after the Colorado game but I’m sure there were just too many fans to be able to sign everything. I hope to see you and your family next year at the games and if not I certainly will follow Lil’ Mike’s career wherever he goes. He is certainly a special talent.

Check your email, Tim.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, this concludes this week’s edition. I have created an e-mail address dedicated to “Mama Sayz.” By no means do I want to stop the interaction in the comment section here. However, if it’s something that you would like to share with me and not with the rest of the world, you could contact me that way. After checking with the “higher-ups,” I will post the address in next week’s edition with all of the conditions of using it as well, O.K.?

Next stop: Iowa State. All aboard!

Hey Jeff, STOP PREDICTING THE GAMES! (J-MART NOTE: I know, right? I’m awful).

Man, that was a tough one to give up… Oh, in case anyone’s wondering, yes, we made it to the Nebraska game in Lincoln. Calvin, Miss Tiff and I were joined by my co-workers Lucy and Ms. G-Phi herself, Nikki, on our road trip. I really got a kick out of traveling through the small towns on our way north and seeing how content people can be in their surroundings. It’s very similar to how I’ve settled down here in “The Little Apple.” I remember traveling back east to The Big Apple for the game against Notre Dame. It was so exciting hanging out with Mona and Keisha and the rest of my family in the fast-paced world filled with the things that were so familiar to me for most of my life. However, when I finally made it back to Manhattan, Kan., I felt like quoting Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz –“THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!”

Lately, I have been apologizing to everyone for not being on time with my blog and once again I have to apologize again. Work has been so stressful over the last week that I haven’t been mentally able to sit down and do any writing at all. (J-MART NOTE: I know the feeling… except this is my full-time job.) I did see something on ksufans.com suggesting that I may have left town but as you can see, I’m still here.

Last weekend, Mona and Keisha were in town for the Mizzou home game and boy, did they have fun. We were trying to Wabash but Mona is so uncoordinated that she messed it up for anyone around her. A few people actually came up to welcome them to Manhattan and they were baffled about how total strangers (to them, anyway) knew their names — until I had to pull up the latest edition of “MAMA SAYZ” on my phone. (J-MART NOTE: Nice…) After reading it, they just started sucking up their 15 minutes of fame. They (including Lucy) really expect me to send them the link every week, which I refuse to do because they need to become more familiar with their computers, right? (J-MART NOTE: The powers that be appreciate the page views. Send the link as many times as possible.) I tell them that I don’t have to send it out to the people who follow it week after week but they just give me THE LOOK… They’re so lazy. I’d save myself a headache by just sending the link!

The amazing thing about seeing Mona is that when we see each other, it seems like we’ve never separated. We just pick up from were we left off and keep it moving. There’s never any sad goodbyes where we hug and kiss each other — we just say, “Bye, girl, call me when you land,” and be done with it. We went to my favorite store in town, GTM, to pick up some new gear for the folks back home and before you know it, I started bickering with Mona because Keisha and me were taking too long with our purchases. Apparently she doesn’t know that I can spend the morning in that store and never have too much K-State apparel — and still return the next week for more.

We did have the opportunity to dine at Doe’s on this visit and they had CRAB LEGS! I just dove right in and didn’t want to share with anyone at the table. I figure why should I share with them when they can get crabs back home in Maryland on a regular basis.

Curtis was in town, too, and it’s always fun to just hang out with my “brother from another mother.” (Now that’s funny!) I think he and his wife, Monica, will be back for “Big Monday” against Texas. Some of the coaches on the team have been calling me the “paparazzi” because I carry my camera around all of the time and whenever they see me coming they cover there faces as if they are camera shy. They drive me crazy! What they don’t understand is that I need to capture the moment at the click of a button so that my readers can get a better idea of what I’m writing about. Besides, I like to catch people when they least expect it… LOL! That reminds me… Who do I need to see about a media pass to some of the events, like the press conferences, access to the players, etc? Oh J-E-F-F-R-E-Y! (J-MART NOTE: I think you want to speak to Tom Gilbert, the basketball SID. He’ll appreciate being mentioned here, I’m sure.)

I met some of the former Wildcats and I considered it such an honor. Bob Boozer is a very kind and sincere man and he was such a joy to talk to — as were the rest of the guys. We even met the voice of the “Flying Dutchman” from Sponge Bob. Now that was impressive, although it kind of takes the fun out of the idea that Sponge Bob is not really who Lil’ Mike thinks he is. Which reminds me, there was a young lady who wrote to Lil’ Mike a little while ago and asked a question about the name of the snail on Sponge Bob and I just wanted her to know that it is Gary. He’s Sponge Bob’s pet. Now that’s scary… You don’t even want to know how I know that! Anyway, enough about the little yellow guy.

The tribute to Vanessa Stewart was touching, to say the least. The family’s message on her behalf touched many, including Mona, who lost her only child, Stevon, to cancer at the age of 14 years almost three years ago. It’s always hard to lose a loved one but God gives us the strength to continue it’s least expected.

Speaking of the Stewart’s… Miss Tiffany has made a new little friend, Jordan, who is Clent’s nephew. He was so cute and they got along just as good if not better than Mona and I — imagine that!

My life has been non-stop from the time that Mona and the gang rolled into town up until Friday evening when I punched the clock to end a very long week of work. Now I have to mentally prepare myself for the upcoming weekend with Calvin’s brother, Brian, and friends (Rush and his high school buddy), as well as the founder of the D.C. Assault himself – with wife and daughter in tow. (J-MART NOTE: I’ll do the ‘Five’ with Curtis this week. It’s a lock.) Oh, by the way, Monica Smith-Malone will be celebrating her birthday, which is TODAY (Feb. 24) in Manhattan. Now that says a lot! I can’t wait to see her and Sidney, who is Tiffany’s twin that just happens to be 18 years older (they share the same birthday).

I’m not sure if anyone can relate to this but let me put it out there. Growing up in a house with six kids, my dad basically had six human remote controls that allowed him to take comfort on the couch and never have to move for anything except bathroom breaks. Although I hated it, I have managed to adopt the ways of my dad in my household today, only not to the same extreme (I promise!). In my house, the one who runs my errands now is Malik. It’s just something that goes on, no biggie, right? I don’t ask of him the impossible, just normal things. He doesn’t complain because it’s just in his nature to be helpful and that’s one of the greatest qualities he possesses, and I consider myself truly blessed to be his mom. I brought this up because I have adopted a “Malik” (for a lack of better words) within Bramlage. He is so helpful in getting my messages to Lil’ Mike, the coaches or practically anyone that I need to contact. If there is a question I may have, he usually has the answer and he even humors me when I need to be in group photos… He’s the best. I just want him to know that nothing he does is ever taken for granted and it is appreciated, so I just wanted to say, “Thanks Sam!”

At a later date I will dedicate a blog specifically to the guys and gals behind the scene of the basketball team. Uh oh, I’ll bet they’re shaking in their boots now! I’m just sitting here cracking up at the thought of how fast their office doors will close when they see me coming… I’m going to have fun with that, so watch out now, here I come!

To finish our weekend Tiffany and I went to visit the girls of the Gamma Phi Beta House and had dessert with them after touring their house… Tiffany says they all remind her of her favorite fashion characters, The BRATZ, and was pretty upset that she had to go home. So, Ladies of G-Phi, if you ever need company, PLEASE let me know! (J-MART NOTE: Somehow, I think Lil’ Mike and the fellas would appreciate the invite more.)

Now on to the good stuff… You!

FROM: 3DCat (Jennifer)
WHEN: Feb. 15, 2008

Ms. Smith!! YOU MADE MY DAY!! I am so glad you and your family appreciated the cookies. It was my pleasure to do something for you. Give Lucy my love. (We ran track together in high school). Isn’t she a neat person? Win or lose, I am there for you. Have a wonderful weekend with your visiting family. Mizzou is not going to know what hit them!

Jennifer,
You made my day by helping me to figure out what Lil’ Mike’s favorite cookies are… I would love to have the recipe, if it’s not a family secret — LOL! Thanks so much and I can see why you and Lucy hit it off for so many years. Take care!

FROM: James
WHEN: Feb. 15, 2008

Thanks for sharing. It’s a good time to be a K-STATER.

James,
You’re welcome! It’s a GREAT time to a K-Stater! It’s like being a Redskin fan… A true fan will stick with their team through the wins and especially the losses. I will forever bleed PURPLE (and burgundy and gold!).

FROM: Lori
WHEN: Feb. 17, 2008
That was a great win against Mizzou. The whole team played great. I sure enjoy reading your blog. Thanks! Just watched YouTube with Mike and some of his post-game interviews, such as the I-pod one. He is so funny and witty. Was he like that as a little boy, say 4 or 5?

Lori,
Yes, Lil’ Mike has an I-pod! I can’t figure out the fascination he has with seeing the I-pod during the press conference. In the beginning, he really didn’t know that he was being taped but when he found out about it, he was a little embarrassed at first but then got a kick out of it. That boy does make me wonder sometimes… He and the rest of my kids have always been entertaining. I can truly say there has never been a dull moment in the life of “Tima’s Kids,” which is how my sister would describe them.

FROM: Nicka
WHEN: Feb. 18, 2008

Ma,
I was at the mall today and Mike walks by. He was on his phone so I didn’t want to bother him but the urge to get a picture with him and my six-month-old son was too strong. I asked him for a moment to take a pic and, true to form, he was kind enough to say yes. In the end my camera phone never saved the picture (which I found out when I got home) but I now have a memory to share with my son when he gets old enough to understand. I hope to raise my son to be as kind as yours.

Nicka,
I’m sorry your camera didn’t work because a picture is worth a thousand words. Don’t worry, if you see him again, I’m sure he would pose for you. He really has a big heart when he’s not being pressured.

FROM: Rog
WHEN: Feb. 21, 2008

Yikes! Nebraska was a train wreck! We need to get a solution to the defensive struggles quick or we’ll be playing ourselves out of the tourney! I couldn’t believe the number of backdoor lay-ups the Huskers were able to create with their offensive picks. Mike had the hot hand and they stopped feeding him the ball in the later stages of the game.

Mama – what do we need to do to win on the road?

Rog,
It wasn’t quite a train wreck. Don’t get me wrong, I hate to lose but it happens. As far as winning on the road… Your guess is as good as mine! I can tell you this. That was as tough an environment that I have seen so far…I can only imagine how the KU crowd will be. (J-MART NOTE: Oh, boy. That was nothing. Prepared to be shocked in Lawrence.)

FROM: Grape Ape
WHEN: Feb. 22, 2008

Mama,
I love reading your thoughts on “Mama Sayz.” You are in a truly unique situation. Best of luck to all of your family. What are your dreams for the future? Do you plan to move back to D.C. after Mike makes his jump to the next level? I hope to see the Cats figure out their road woes and make a strong run at the end of the season.

Mr. Ape,
Thanks for wanting to read my thoughts. I keep wondering, week after week if “Mama Sayz” is continuing to draw readers (J-MART NOTE: It does extremely well, and we couldn’t be happier with Fatima) but I’ll keep writing until Jeff gives me the boot (J-MART NOTE: I’m not going to give you the boot) and maybe even beyond that in some form, who knows? My dreams for the future would be for my children to be successful in their choices in life and to be in great health to see how everything shakes out. I’m not too sure when or if I’ll be moving back to the DC area. Being here in Manhattan has changed my thoughts on being secluded in one area. I may choose to branch off and move to a foreign country… Now imagine that!

Well folks, I really have to get to my other full-time job of doing laundry, cleaning windows, washing the dog, cleaning out my car, etc., etc., etc…

Two more days. For what, you might ask? My sister Mona and my god-sister Keisha from New Jersey will be here on Saturday for the Mizzou game. It’s always fun to see them and I’m so excited. So if anyone is at the game, make sure you stop by and say hello to them — they’ll get a kick out of people knowing them by their first names.

I received some home-baked goods over the weekend, which where sooooooo good from a new friend Jennifer (by the way, my co-worker Lucy says that she knows you and sends her hellos!) who I met at the game. The home-baked snacks came in handy since I was too sick to cook, let alone bake, anything for my roommates. The kids loved everything that was in the package. I wasn’t certain how Lil’Mike was going to like everything until I saw him leaving out the door and trying to stuff as many of the nicely decorated purple cookies into his pocket — without a wrapper at all. I had to tell him to put the cookies back in the “to go” containers and just take the whole thing. He just laughed and happily marched out of the door with them tucked under his arm, as secure as he holds the ball on the court! I was surprised that he even offered Jamar any… I’d say they were a hit!

Speaking of Jamar — you just never know who you may run into while taking a Sunday afternoon stroll through the Manhattan Mall. Calvin, Tiffany and I were at one of the kiosks in the mall doing some browsing when Tiffany yells out, “Hey Jamar, what are you doing here?” So naturally, he looks like a deer caught in the headlights. You see, he looked as if he was sneaking into Claires before he could be seen by anyone but his smallest fan (and/or thorn in his side) called him out. After getting the third degree by me and Lil’ Miss Tiff, we allowed him to carry on with his “official manly business” in one of Mychaela’s and Tiffany’s favorite accessory stores… Hmmm, I wonder what he could have been doing? LOL!

Well, I really am getting a little claustrophobic because of the family illnesses but I’m so happy to say that I think that we are coming through it and life will resume some sort of normalcy as early as (today. Well, I wanted to get to the questions so that I can get this over to J-Mart…

FROM: Tim A.
WHEN: Feb. 9, 2008

I hope you get to feeling better. I made it to the Neb game. Hope Mike’s toe gets better. I can’t imagine having (Aleks) Maric landing on it all the time.

Hey Tim,
How have you been? Lil’Mike assures me that all ten of his little piggies are intact and ready for Coach Pat and the Red Rangers. (J-MART NOTE: My bad.)

FROM: kevinict
WHEN: Feb. 9, 2008

Ms. Smith,
Dont let the “haters” get you down. I really appreciate that you are willing to “put yourself out there” so we can get a glimpse into the life and family of a player that amazes the entire country on the basketball court. The trouble with the Internet is people will post comments they would dare say to a person’s face or even attach their real name to. Sounds to me you have handled your responsibilities well and have a neat family, not unlike thousands of other families in which the son isn’t a household name.

Here is a question I haven’t seen anything written about… Did you or Mike’s father have any athletic accomplishments? I’d love to know if either of you participated in sports and at what level.

Kevin,
Let me tell you something funny. When I was a junior in high school my father actually made me try out for the basketball team against my will. I hated the idea of wearing tennis shoes because my feet were so big to be a girl and any tennis shoe that I would put on was just too masculine. After what seemed like an eternity I did make the final cut of the team and I was FURIOUS! I went home and told my dad that I was cut in the last round and he was just simply satisfied that I put forward the effort and that was that. Even though I feel bad about never telling him the truth, I’m O.K. with that decision. That was not my cup of tea…

On another note, Lil’ Mike’s dad, Michael Beasley, Sr., was extremely good in basketball. He played for his high school team back in Maryland and was actually known on the junior college circuit in the Midwest. He graduated from Booneville Military School in Boonville, Mo., and went to junior college in Oklahoma and Texas. Lil’ Mike’s aunt, Sidney Beasley, also played basketball. She graduated from George Mason, were she received a basketball scholarship and she also played for the women’s FIBA Basketball Team and played on some level overseas as well.

FROM: rog
WHEN: Feb. 9, 2008
Ms. Smith, glad you’re enjoying your time in Manhappiness. I’m also hoping the fam is too. I know it’s a different world from D.C. but hopefully you’ve found enjoyment in this “place” that isn’t always rushing to get to some place (if that makes any sense). What a talented son you have! He makes it look so effortless. Please thank him and the rest of Coach Bob & Frank’s recruits for helping restore the rich tradition of KSU basketball. It nice to see people come watch the games and help support the rest of us who have been supporting the teams of the past 15+ years. The K-State family is glad Michael is a Wildcat (even if it is for a short time).

Hey Rog,
I know exactly what you are trying to say. That’s the sort of metaphor that my sister and I make and no one seems to get it but us… Wow! Michael makes a lot of things seem so effortless — like when he just drops his laundry at the door without it being sorted… Yep, no effort on his part at all! LOL!

FROM: WuTangForever
WHEN: Feb. 10, 2008

Ma, your son is great. You are blessed to have such a young man of great character. We are fortunate to get to watch he and the rest of the guys this year. On another topic. I know you are a ‘Skinz fan, so 2 questions: What do you think of Jim Zorn, Daniel Snyder’s new two-year experiment of a hire? And who is your favorite player for the Redskins not named Rock Cartwright?

WTF,
The guys have developed into a team to be reckoned with, huh? I find myself going through withdrawals in between games… Really, I do! I sleep with SportsCenter on, record my favorite shows like Prison Break, Nip/Tuck and American Idol so that I can watch College GameNight live because I need to know what’s going on with basketball NOW! You should see me watching a game — on my laptop checking out ESPN for updates and waiting for more updates on my Treo… It’s bad. But I LOVE IT!

As for my Skins, I sort of like the idea of Zorn. I’m all about giving opportunities to let people prove themselves. If it doesn’t work out, then how bad can it really be? Just put him back in the position he was originally hired for and move on. My favorite current Skins are (Clinton) Portis and (Fred) Smoot! I like their personalities… They crack me up! (Sean) Taylor was also one of my guys and I’m so sorry that he is no longer with us…

FROM: 3DCat
WHEN: Feb. 11, 2008

Ms. Smith,
We love you and your family. You have allowed us to see you and your family from a very unique perspective. Please disregard all the stupid Internet comments. I can promise you they are not posted by anyone who supports K-State. Your candor is refreshing. To have raised a son like Michael with his heart is just the best. I loved his comment he made about Miss Tiffany during the FSMW show last weekend. “Miss Tiffany is my world.” You should be very proud of him and all your children.

3DCat,
If there’s one thing that people will learn about me, it’s that I have very thick skin. So the negative things that are written by others are not taken to heart. Lil’ Mike’s relationship with his siblings is something that cannot be bought or faked. Every time I see them together, no matter how long or short the visit, it reassures me that I have made the right decision to be here in Manhattan!

Well, this is it for now, so I will see you at the game on Saturday!

Wow!  What a week of events…

First, let me tell you all this — if you haven’t gotten a flu vaccine yet, please run to your doctor’s office at the very first opportunity. I have been bitten by the flu bug and I’m here to tell you that even though I survived it (barely,) that bug has some of the biggest and sharpest teeth out there!  It snuck up on me with no warning and then BAM! I was down for the count. I was finally able to see the other side of my bedroom door after four days of excruciating body pain. Before I could fully recuperate, Dymond was taken hostage, too! So, do as I say – get the shot!

You know, after the “streak was over,” I thought about writing this giant-sized blog about how we slayed the giants but after giving it some thought, I decided against it for various reasons. It was a very overwhelming experience that I was ecstatic to witness, and I was beyond thrilled  that my son, family and close friends were able to participate in such an event. However, we still have to remember to look at the bigger picture. The guys of the team put it best… This is a 16-round fight to the end and KU was only Round 5. That game just goes to show you that when you put your mind to it, you can do anything. I will say this, the boys played with the most confidence that I have seen all year and it was a joy to watch. I don’t have to re-live that moment which seemed as though a volcano erupted and purple lava poured onto the court because it was televised over and over. I will say, even though KU is supposed to be the enemy we have to remember that these are still young men with feelings, too. While taking nothing from what turned out to be an enormous win for us, KU lost at our expense and this battle began before any of the boys from either team where even born. Enough said…

Well, folks, on Monday I got a call from day-care stating that Tiffany needed to be picked up because of a high fever and that was the start of my week-long battle with the flu. Even though I managed to kick the bug in the end, it makes me wonder — did I really win? I mean, I missed a home game which I could hardly remember seeing through all of the pain that I was in. Don’t worry, I did manage to keep Lil’ Mike out of the the house for the most part and when he did come by, he didn’t come to my room or at least that’s what I’ve been told. I also missed four days of work, which means that I just had a four-day all expense paid vacation to my master bedroom suite. I missed yet another deadline of “Mama Sayz.” (J-MART NOTE: You were sick. We’ll let it slide.) My only sister’s birthday was Feb. 6, and all I could manage to do was send her a corny text message letting her know that she was almost over the hill. So again, I wonder — did I really win the fight against the flu bug?!?

What the… Everything over there has changed up again…J-MART!!! (J-MART NOTE: My bad.)

FROM: Bilol
WHEN: Feb. 1, 2008

Ms. Beaz,
Why did you make me pay my co-payment the other day at the doc’s office? Now I am broke.

FROM: Pissclams
WHEN: Feb. 1, 2008

J-Mart, do you know why the pics are so small?

Mr. Pissclams (J-MART NOTE: That’s hysterical),
The small pictures were my fault. Well, not really. J-Mart asked me to make them smaller so I did. But he didn’t say how small. So can somebody let me know how big or small they should be… I’ll leave them alone and let his photography people do the sizing from now on. Oh, this week, there are no photos because I am just still too weak to do much of anything.

FROM: Steve
WHEN: Feb. 1, 2008

As a K-State fan, I am extremely proud that Mike represents KSU, and to me he embodies the spirit of K-State to a tee. Aside from all of his on-the-court heroics and accomplishments, it’s obvious there is so much more to Mike than this. He is a good human being with a big heart and a good teammate. He knows what is important in life and that is a tribute to you and a compliment to the University no matter how long he chooses to stay. You can see it in his eyes, his actions, and his words. This is what makes K-State special — people like Mike. Somehow, K-State is drawn to them, or they are drawn to K-State. We may be seem to be out in the middle of nowhere to a lot of people, but this is a very special place, and we are glad your family is, and always will be a part of it all. I hope to see Mike’s jersey take its place in the rafters of Bramlage when he is finished here, and will always count it a privilege to have watched him play in person. I enjoy reading your blog, and appreciate you sharing your experience with all K-State fans.

I’m going to end this now but not before saying that my prayers go out to the Stewart family. I know that God will give you the strength to carry on. Rest in peace, Vanessa Stewart. You will be remembered by many!

One week, four days, five hours, 33 minutes and 17, 18, 19 seconds…

Why the countdown, you might ask? Maybe the Sunflower Showdown? No. That’s how long little Miss Tiffany and the rest of the family had to “bond” before her daddy returned from his latest road trip adventure.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Tiffany is as sweet as she appears in person to most people at the games, the mall, daycare and the countless other places that people may meet her. However, she is the only one of my five roommates who challenges EVERYTHING I say or do! The whole time that her daddy was gone on his longest road trip ever we practiced with her what she was going to do during the Little Cat Slam Jam Competition and had it down to perfection. The moment she and her Dad walked into the tunnel just before half-time of the Iowa State game, she tells him, “Daddy, I don’t want to do what Mommy showed me. I wanted to spin around and then dunk — like Michael.” He said to her to do what ever she wanted to. Although I was pleased that she pulled out the win, I just couldn’t figure out what happened to the big performance we had planned until she announced what happened when we got to the car.

“Mommy, I did what I wanted to do — not what you wanted me to do!”

I just looked at Calvin and thought to myself how great it was for him to be home… so that he can take his turn at playing with MISS TIFFANY!

After the game, this young lady came over to congratulate Tiffany for winning the dunk contest and actually asked for her autograph. We were really shocked but Tiffany jumped at the opportunity to write her name, which she LOVES to do. That started a line for others to get her “autograph,” and she acted as if she had been doing this for years… Naturally, we had to celebrate Tiffany’s win, so we headed to BWW in Aggieville. It was very cute and she can’t stop talking about it.

I have to mention the fact that Malik was a little upset that his baby sister was getting so much attention and I completely understand. He told me that a few kids asked him for his “autograph,” too, and that I kept missing the opportunity to take his picture while doing so. He also said, and I quote, that I “need to pay attention to his needs too!” I will admit that I felt a little guilty, but the only thing I could catch on camera was him sneaking another slice of the pizza his brother, Lil’ Mike, had neglected while being interviewed by FSN. How’s that, Malik? Have your needs been met?! LOL!

The other day while at work, my co-workers and I were discussing homemade cookies and how long it’s been since we’ve had time to make them. On the way home that day it dawned on me that the holiday package of baked goodies which comes from Calvin’s parents EVERY year around Christmas time hadn’t yet arrived. I then started to think, Hmmmm… I wonder if Calvin received a notice to pick up the package from the post office and he just shoved them in his rig and took them on one of these long work trips, which took through some below freezing weather in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa over the last week or so. So I decided to do some investigating… I promptly made a phone call to Pa Couch and the conversation went a little like this:

Me: Hey, Mr. Couch, how have you been?
Him: Hey, Fatima, things are great. How are you guys? I hope you all are managing to stay warm out there.
Me: Yeah, we’re doing a good job of it but Calvin is freezing his hindparts off in Minnesota right now!
Him: (laughing) What makes you call today — is everything OK?
Me: I was just wondering if I could ask you something. Now, I’ve noticed that we haven’t received our holiday package of baked goodies and I just wanted to clear this up with you before Calvin comes home. Because if he received that package and took it on the road with him without telling me, Minnesota will seem as hot as a desert when he returns home.

After laughing hysterically, he explains that there no package this year because of various reasons. But I think — or at least I hope — he will talk Mrs. Couch into sending a little touch of Richmond, Va., this way soon.

Well, the whole town is excited for the Sunflower Showdown. I haven’t seen such a rivalry since back home, where my dad and I loved the Redskins and the the rest of the family was die-hard Cowboys fans. I never understood how you can be such a die-hard fan when you have never been to that town or have no connection to the town , but hey, to each his own.

Now for some questions:

FROM: superksufan
WHEN: Jan. 24, 2008
Mama,
Thanks again for a great read. Sharing your stories about ALL your children is extremely entertaining.

What game(s) are you looking forward to watching/cheering/going to this season? Outside of KSU, so far — which school would you say has the nicest fans?

Hey Super K,
I look forward to ALL of the games, to be honest. I just love to watch sports of all kinds. I’ve only been to one true away game and that was at OU. Their fans weren’t bad at all. I hope it’s that way all the way across the board. (J-MART NOTE: Don’t bank on it, Ma.)

FROM: Zac
WHEN: Jan. 24, 2008
Mama, just wanted to apologize for doubting this blog early on. I am a full-on believer now, and really do look forward to it each week. Keep it up.

Hi Zac,
Apology accepted. I really didn’t know what this was going to be like in the very beginning but I must admit that I am quite pleased with the response. (J-MART NOTE: We are, too. )

FROM: BikerCat
WHEN: Jan. 24, 2008
Mama, at first, I didn’t give you the credit you deserved for putting in your opinion in the blog, however, it really is something to read each time you “post up.” Hopefully, you won’t be moving for another three and a half years but I’m not sure your insanely great son will remain in his purple jersey much longer — or in the classroom that long. As a senior at K-State, we as a student body are very fond that Lil’ Mike is bringing so much attention to the school and only wished that he would stick around and give us four full years of “edge of the chair excitement” as great college basketball players do to help establish the dominance of the program… And that goes for Bill, too. However, it is really hard, I know, to anchor Mike when he wants to chase after his dreams in the NBA, especially when he’s not even 20 and has the real possibility of inking a multi-million dollar deal in a few short months. In any event, hopefully he will reach his goal this year of helping take the Cats to the championship game and winning it all! Here’s to you for raising a great son!

BikerCat,
I’m not sure how long our stay here in Manhattan will be but I will tell you that I am enjoying my stay here even more than I anticipated. I’m just glad that the attention that is brought to Lil’ Mike, the team and the school is appreciated so much. Thanks for the compliment of him being a “great son,” but I can’t take the credit for myself. I have a strong nucleus of friends and family that has helped out in various ways throughout his life and for that I am forever in their debt.

FROM: Katalyst
WHEN: Jan. 24, 2008
Hey Mama-Beaz,
Just recently stumbled upon your blog and thanks to J-Mart and The Beacon (J-MART NOTE: Or the Eagle, but carry on) for bringing us fresh stories for the Wildcat Nation to look forward to daily. K-State fans living in Kansas City tend to react negatively to the Kansas City Star’s coverage of K-State, so it is often nicknamed the KU Star for its perceived bias toward KU. (J-MART NOTE: I don’t agree, and I’ll explain more in-depth at a later time.)

Speaking of KU: are you aware of some of the antics that fans have passed down from over the last say 80 years for the KU game? If not, expect the KU game to be the loudest of the year (unless there’s a Big 12 championship game on the line during a later home game). Expect to see fake and possibly live chickens painted red and blue. Live ones will fly onto the court, fake ones will be hung in effigy. In other words, buckle up your seat belt because it’s going to be a wild ride.

Katalyst,
Oh, no… Not the chickens!!!!

FROM: Lisa
WHEN: Jan. 25, 2008
Thanks for taking the time to do your blog. All of us Catbackers are sure glad your family came to Manhattan. We love watching the Cats on television and enjoyed the A&M game in person. I can tell that Mike loves to sing. What are his five favorite songs? Have fun at the KU game!

Lisa,
Lil’ Mike loves music. He thinks he can rap, too, which in all actuality he’s not too shabby, but I wouldn’t tell him that. As far as favorite songs, he likes to listen to “To Zion” by Lauryn Hill before every game (J-MART NOTE: It’s also played on the public address system at every home game, about 25 minutes before the opening tip). In fact, he loves her “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” CD.

Well, once again I must cut this short because I have to get ready for the Sunflower Showdown. Before I leave I would like to say thanks to everyone for even wanting to know what goes on behind the scenes of this crazy family of mine. Until we meet again… Ta-ta!

HELLOOOO?

Is anybody out there? I mean, seriously, does anybody really read this besides my sister? The reason I ask is because I’ve talked to quite a few people lately, most recently a reporter, Bill, from the Kansas City Star, and some of the stuff that was asked of me would have clearly been “self-answered” if “Mama Sayz” was really being read — not that I mind talking at all because of this “gift for gab” that I possess. I really enjoy conversing with others that don’t live under the same roof as me. Hey J-Mart, can I make a suggestion? (J-MART NOTE: Of course.) What about adding a page counter? That way you could keep track of what makes for interesting reading (or not).  Remember it’s just a suggestion…  (J-MART NOTE: Duly noted, but just so everyone knows, “Mama Sayz” is routinely one of the top three read blog entries every day at Kansas.com.)

Over the last couple of weeks, many different articles have come out regarding Lil’ Mike that show his “playful” side. Although they are VERY entertaining and somewhat enlightening on how or what he thinks while off the court, I think some people (very few, I hope) might get the idea that he doesn’t take life seriously. Well, first let’s not forget that he just turned 19 and the majority of his “pranks” were done during his very youthful years.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not making excuses for him and/or his behavior, but fair is fair, right? And really, looking back on most of his pranks, I just shake my head and sort of chuckle to myself… he’s like a modern day Dennis the Menace! (J-MART NOTE: I think he’s a better rebounder, though.)

FROM: Will
WHEN: Jan. 22, 2008

Brian Gates at GoPowercat.com posted this story. He said to pass it along to anyone and I thought we should pass it on to Mama.

“I wish there was a way to share this story with more people. This will get it out to a lot of K-State people, I realize, but feel free to pass this along to anyone you want to.

Blade Winter, an 11-year old boy from Clifton, is battling leukemia. He was at the women’s game on Saturday night and had made his way down by his cousin and was sitting on the aisle beside his cousin so he could see the Marching Cobras a little better.

One of the Bramlage ushers made their way down to him and told him he would not be able to stay sitting on the aisle like that.

That is when Michael Beasley told the usher that Blade was with him. He had Blade come sit down by him in the chairs on the floor. So, Blade sat there with Michael, and his friends (Jamar Samuels, Dominique Sutton and James Franklin).

His mother told me that Blade has battled chemotherapy for nearly six of the last eight years of his life. That fact (and probably the existing leukemia) wasn’t known by Michael when he invited Blade down to the seats with them.

Michael also gave Blade an autographed t-shirt while he was sitting there with them.

I know we all watch them on the court and are thrilled with their play out there, but these guys are truly great representatives of Kansas State University.”

First, as a mother I always wonder how my perfect little angels behave when they are not in my presence so this story warms my heart two times over. Here’s why… Sometimes when I want Lil’ Mike, or any of my kids, to do something out of the kindness of their hearts it doesn’t always go over so well – it’s as if I’m giving them another chore or something. So to actually take the time out and be a part of the women’s game by signing autographs for the various fans without being told to shows me that he not only listens to me but he actually hears me as well. He actually loves to see the smiles on little kids’ faces (young and old) when they meet him. Anything to bring a genuine smile to someone’s face is a satisfying feeling. Because he didn’t know the condition of the young man Blade makes me even more proud. You see, my sister Mona lost her only son, Stevon, to a very rare form of cancer almost three years ago. He was just as much one of my children as my children are to Mona. Our kids were inseparable up until this very sad event in our lives. When she and I read this comment we couldn’t help but think of him. I really pray for strength for this young man and his family.

OK, I know I promised to have this done by Tuesday but for some reason I have been extremely busy. (J-MART NOTE: Deadlines are a pain in the butt.) So here it is, 11:30  p.m. after the Colorado game and I’m trying to wrap this up. That game was good to watch and I was at home cheering the guys on at the top of my lungs. I was so worried the change in altitude was going to affect some or all of them but we pulled through again.

FROM: Schitz
WHEN: Jan. 19, 2008

Hey Mama,
Just wanted to tell you that you looked good tonight. That might be the coolest jersey I have ever seen.

Hey Schitz,

Thanks for the compliment. For those who didn’t see my jersey, it has all of the players’ numbers on it to represent the whole team. (J-MART NOTE: A picture would be nice.) I have said from the beginning that this is not a one-man show and I really believe that the boys are showing that in the way they have been playing.

FROM: Steve Dave
WHEN: Jan. 19, 2008

Hey Mom, any chance you make the road game in Lincoln? I have to live in Nebraska and I need a date for the game! If you are heading this way anyway, let me know and I will take you out for a Juice Stop and game!

FROM: VirginiaKid
WHEN: Jan. 19, 2008

Hey Mama,
Thanks for sharing your time and thoughts with us. Will you continue to do so when Lil’ Mike goes to the NBA? As part of the K-State family, I’m sure we would love to continue to follow his progress as a person and not just what we see on ESPN. Also, y’all are from D.C. — what area of D.C.? Did Lil’ Mike ever play in the Tidewater area of Virginia? B-Cool.

Hey V-Kid,

Whenever the time comes for us to move, I would like to stay in touch with the Wildcat fans in one way or another. K-State will always be a part of our family for as long as we live. So I guess I will be here as long as I am wanted. Oh, and we are from P.G. County, Md., and that is right outside of D.C.

FROM: PowerCatScott
WHEN: Jan. 20, 2008

Thanks again for another great blog. Just a cautionary word, “ChickenHawk” is a derogatory term used for fans of that OTHER team in Lawrence, so you might want to be careful calling yourself one of those, someone might get the wrong idea.

In all seriousness, I love this blog and I love that you’ve taken such an active role in the K-State community. A lot of time families of players, especially elite players, exist for no other reason than to promote themselves and their children, but your level-headedness and genuine passion for K-State is refreshing. Now, about next year…

Scott,

Driving to Norman was well worth it after watching the game against the Sooners. The guys on both teams played with real confidence and for once I was silent throughout the whole game. The lead switched so many times that I lost track, and neither of the teams could get a strong lead. But that’s what made the game both good and bad. If I had the fingernails that I used to have, I would have bitten them off by the end of the game. It was as if I was in a coma — I could not muster any emotions until the last 2.3 seconds of the game and we all know the outcome… so I really don’t have to go any further. What a relief that last basket was. On the other hand, Blake Griffin is a very good player and I’m sure he will have a great career. I wish him the speediest recovery for his injury in Monday’s game.

Well, since our last meeting, the Sports Illustrated article came out and I was surprisingly pleased by the outcome. It basically touched on Lil’ Mike’s basketball road which landed him at Kansas State University. I was told that if it weren’t for the BCS national championship game, he would have been on the cover. But after finding out about the “SI Jinx,” I’m glad that LSU made front and center because we don’t need anything but positive energy coming our way, right?

Lil’ Mike made his “live” debut on ESPN this week and I must say he looked and sounded very poised. I’ve already told him that if he pulls any pranks on me like he indicated in the interview that I would make him regret it — one way or the other!

After all of the holiday travels and my countless runs to and from the Kansas City Airport, I finally have all of my roommates back at home. To be honest, even though they occupy the majority of my waken moments and drive me absolutely bonkers with their many demands and although I say that I need a break and can’t wait for them to leave, I really do miss them being in the house. It’s just not the same when it’s empty. Now I feel complete again…

Well, since there were no real noteworthy events going on in the house this would be a great opportunity to tackle some of the questions that were asked, so here goes:

FROM: ksu777
WHEN: Jan. 11, 2008

If Lil’ Mike, Billy W., J-Mart, Frank, Dalonte, Stan Weber, that hot classy cat, Mama Beas, and Hoskins are all back at KSU next year…I will literally crap in my pants with excitement… Three craps if I can get all the KSU games on TV in KC. Four craps if that ‘2 Unlimited’ song from 1995 is still played at Bramlage. I almost crapped right then just thinking about (it).

KSU777,
My sister, Mona, has a very strange since of humor and after reading your comment she called me while laughing so hard that I could hardly recognize who was on the other end of the phone. So thumbs up for you all the way from the East Coast!

FROM: Tim Archer
WHEN: Jan. 11, 2008

Momma,
Great blog as usual. I felt bad after the game when I asked you if Mike didn’t get anything for Christmas. I re-read the interview and it said that he didn’t ask for anything but got a Mac Book. I didn’t want to get him in trouble. Thanks for being so friendly at the games. I enjoy talking with you and your family as well. Thank Mike and the rest of the guys for signing all the autographs. My kids, and the kids I bring them back for, love them. I gave some to our Boys and Girls Club this week. Have a safe trip to OK and hope to see you guys again at a game (if I can get more tickets.)

Tim,
Don’t worry about it. After reading the article myself, I figured as much. He’s really enjoying his new toy and he had a great birthday. It’s always good to talk to you after the games and I hope you make it to more games during conference play.

FROM: superksufan
WHEN: Jan. 11, 2008

Thanks Momma,
I really enjoy your blogs.

Since you have the inside scoop, I would like to pick your brain….

We all pretty much know that (David) Hoskins is out this year. Have you heard how he is doing with all of this and if he can, will he come back next year? How do Mike and the rest of the team feel about Hoskins not being able to play with them this year?

SuperK,
Believe it or not, we don’t talk basketball all day everyday. To be honest, whenever the kids come over it’s usually to get away from all of that. They don’t ask me what goes on at the office and I don’t ask questions about what goes on in the locker room. It’s pretty much family time therefore I know about as much as you do when it comes to David.

FROM: ksu777
WHEN: January 11, 2008

Mama Beas,
What is your favorite restaurant in Manhattan? Have you tried the delicious and nutritious Pizza Shuttle?

KSU777,
Is this your 2nd question? I’m going to answer it because it’s been asked quite a few times. I like to go places that are entertaining for the kids as well and we are “chicken hawks.” Although, we have frequented many restaurants here in Manhattan, my absolute favorite is BWW in Aggieville! I get to watch sports and defeat the kids (and a few other patrons) in trivia while eating my favorite food. Although I have eaten the “Blazin’ Wings,” my absolute favorite is “Mango Habanera.”

FROM: OlatheCat
WHEN: January 11, 2008

What’s the fascination with Sponge Bob? My kids love it, too. I’ve tried to watch it but I usually get bored after a couple of minutes!

O-Cat,
Sponge Bob is either on or off, hot or cold. In other words, either you love him or you hate him. If only all of life’s problems could be so simple. When my younger brother was coming up, it was Bart Simpson, and he and Lil’ Mike have the same type of playful personalities.

FROM: AuditCat
WHEN: January 11, 2008

Mama,
Thank you for taking the time and effort to give all of us a little peek into your day-to-day life of your family and of the team. I really like how you include so many of the guys in your comments and not just your amazing son. Thanks to J-Mart as well. J-Mart does such a wonderful job of covering K-State sports for us!

My family will be reading and watching from Rio Rancho, N.M. Go K-State!

AuditCat,
I include the other guys because they are a part of this whole thing. This is a TEAM! They are just as important to me and to the success of this program as my “amazing son,” as you put it. Thanks so much for even wanting to know what goes on behind the scenes of that crazy son of mine.

FROM: Bookie Pimp
WHEN: Jan. 14, 2008

Hey Mama!!

Your blog is truly appreciated and after driving up from Dallas to Norman for the OU game, we really enjoyed watching how much fun you and your kids were having after the game interacting with the fans.

What are the chances of you helping one of the administrators from KSUfans.com get a couple of courtside seats with the rest of the K-State “VIP’s” at the Baylor game in Waco?

Keep up the good work. We love your blog!!

Hey Bookie,
Interacting with the fans after the game is almost as much fun being at the game. One thing I’ve noticed is that when Wildcat fans come out, they come DEEP! I’ve never seen such a love for a program before and this is a group of people that I will NEVER forget.

Well, gang, I’m going to call it quits for now and I promise to be back on track next week by having this ready by Tuesday…scout’s honor!

Happy Birthday, Lil’ Mike!

Nineteen long years ago, Michael Paul Beasley, Jr. graced the world with his presence… In fact it was no graceful entry at all. He made a thunderous appearance then just as he commands attention now. He was two weeks overdue, and it was a long and very hard labor. And then, ta-da, I delivered a baby boy checking in at 10 pounds, nine ounces and 23 inches. And then there were two — Dymond and Lil’ Mike. I actually cried. Not tears of joy but of frustration. Why, you might ask? Because I wanted a little girl sooo bad. But as the days turned into months and months into years I was sure happy he was a boy… I just couldn’t imagine a little girl being the size that he was. He outgrew his older brother of two years by the time Lil’ Mike was 3 and Dymond was 5, and he’s been taller ever since.

So, I was so excited to give Lil’ Mike his birthday present this year because I just knew that I had found yet another perfect gift for the son that is almost impossible to please. I saw one of the basketball team managers outside of the store and asked about the whereabouts of the team, and he told me that practice was over some time ago. Since it’s sometimes difficult for Lil’ Mike to hear his phone ring when I call (at least that’s what I tell myself, knowing that he just “looks me off” most of the time) I called one of his teammates that I knew he would be with and told him to meet me at Best Buy. When they arrived at the store, they couldn’t see me right away, so Mr. Walker starts to yell my name out very loud as if he was calling a play on the court. This made the other players, Lil’ Mike and a few customers in the store laugh, but I gave him the evil eye until he got the message to close his trap! I showed Lil’ Mike his gift and instead of the excited look that I was expecting, he said, “Ma, I don’t like this, that’s why I have a ….” I just looked at him and then at the sales clerk, who quickly turned the opposite way, then looked at Bill and back at Lil’ Mike. I just threw my hands in the air and rolled my eyes.

After some negotiating, we came up with the perfect gift that we could both agree on. After making arrangements to have his gift installed, I went looking for the guys from the team, Malik, Lil’ Mike and Tiffany. I found every one but the latter two and after checking outside in the cars and not finding them, I decided to have them paged by store security because after all, he could have been kidnapped, right? After about 10 minutes, they magically appeared and the only explanation from Lil’ Mike was that he and Ms. Tiff had fallen asleep on a couch in the T.V section – go figure.

Speaking of Tiffany, she decided that she would enhance the “BratZ” decorations to her bedroom and bathroom by adding some new stickers to the walls, doors and practically anywhere she could find a empty space. After, I finally finished what I was doing I went to see this new “masterpiece,” as she called it, and I was not too thrilled to see that she had gotten a hold of my postage stamps! I know it’s Saturday, but shouldn’t day care be open anyway?

I need a vacation.

You know that we are in a different era when the word “BLOG” has entered the vocabulary of a four-year old. She brought me about three to four pages of scribble and said, “Mommy, you can put this in your blog.” I just cracked up! So maybe one day this will be turned into “Family Sayz”… Nahh! This is all about Mama!

The Savannah game was entertaining, to say the least. How well it helped us in preparing for conference play is yet to be determined, so stay tuned. My socializing after the game is becoming more involved because the faces in the crowd are becoming more familiar and I actually enjoy having real conversations with people on a weekly basis. By the way “Crazy Cats fan in St. Louis,” the Stewarts, Nancy and Andre’s fiance Tamara were amazed and happy at what they saw!

O.K. Now on to some questions:

From: Nick
When: Jan. 2, 2008 at 5:53 p.m.
I love your “Mama Sayz” and hope to get to keep reading it. My question is what was Mike’s demeanor after the game in Xavier? How does he handle a more human performance then what he is use to putting up?

Nick, it was a heartbreaking performance in many ways. Lil’ Mike and I talked right after the game and we both expressed how heavy our hearts were after a loss like that. Even though it seemed almost as though the world has ended, it is over now and he has survived it. He knows that college is much different then playing in AAU and high school. College basketball is a whole other monster and it will obviously have its ups and downs. Looking back on that game and the results, I really couldn’t even make sense of it outside of the fact that Xavier is really, really good and Fred can really shoot the three.

From: Knoelle11
When: Jan. 2, 2008 at 9:37 p.m.
Criticisms by the media have been leveled at Coach Martin regarding the extremely vulgar language used toward the basketball players. While it seems that Coach Martin has maybe cooled off a bit (or at least I can’t hear him from where I sit), do you feel his language is/was out of line? How do you as a parent react when you see the coach lay into your son?

Love the blog and love reading your reactions to K-State basketball!

Knoelle11, you know what? From where I sit I really don’t hear what’s said (or in this case, yelled) on the bench. What I will say is that different people have different ways of expressing themselves. What may be offensive to one is not to another. Players receive messages from coaches differently then we do as spectators. In my house, when things are out of order and I’m ranting and raving like I was a crazed maniac (as my kids say), it loses its punch when it’s heard over and over again. That’s when I resorted to different ways of getting my point across. For example, taking something away from my kids such as a car, cell phone, lap-top, etc. You get the point.

Well, I’m going to cut this short because I have to get ready for work. And it’s no longer Lil’ Mike’s birthday. I would also like to say Happy (belated) Birthday to Andre, too. I guess that would explain why he and Lil’ Mike’s personalities are so similar… WOW! We all had a good time celebrating both of the boys’ big day last night and I promise that I won’t tell Scott how much cake you ALL had, guys.

I will also get to all of the questions (well almost all…hint, hint Pete) next week. Oh, I almost forgot… It’s road trip time again. See you in Oklahoma!