James Dickey, Peter King's Worthlessness

Houston Cougars Hire James Dickey
I'm a Houston Cougar. I'm an alumni and fan. I go to as many football games as my work schedule allows. I went to 2 of the last 3 bowl games (one was local). In summary I love my Cougars.

I wanted Tom Penders gone. His act got old. My personal belief is he was cashing one last paycheck before retirement. As long as the University allowed him, he would go through the motions of coaching and recruiting.

The vast majority of Houston fans, despite the late C-USA surge and NCAA Tournament appearance, wanted a change at the helm of Cougar basketball.

Be careful of what you wish for. Cougar fans got the change we wanted. Unfortunately the hiring of former Texas Tech coach James Dickey isn't what most wanted.

Most wanted a splashy headline grabbing coach like Billy Gillespie. I wanted Gillespie too. It didn't happen. Dickey is it.

Now I ask Cougar fans to step away from the ledge and live with the decision. Quit threatening to boycott games and renewing season tickets. First of all, there isn't enough of you to make a difference. Second, while I don't blindly follow the program, give it a chance. The decision was made by AD Mack Rhoades. For better or worse, we have to live with it.

We Cougars can be an insecure group. Many fans use that behemoth in Austin and that ass backward school in Collie Station as benchmarks. Screw them. We don't have the resources those places have. We don't have the fan support they have. UH has screwed the pooch in so many ways it's not even funny.

Instead we must build up the current programs, sustain that growth and position ourselves for future success. Art Briles resuscitated a football program on life support. Kevin Sumlin reaped the benefits and propelled the Cougars to wins over three BCS schools and attained a national ranking. Cougar football is building up and it doesn't appear the school is aiming for quick hitting solutions but sustained success and strength.

Basketball must follow a similar path. Penders did a decent job with basketball. He did nothing great and really didn't appear to put any effort into it. Dickey must now take the program the next step. A C-USA surge and an NCAA tournament are something to build on.

For my part, I'm willing to give Dickey a chance. I think if he puts in the effort and does a decent job recruiting local talent and venture out of state occasionally, he can build a sustainably successful program.

Cougar fans, back away from the ledge and give Dickey a chance.

Peter King's Nonsense
In general I don't like Peter King. He constantly rides Brett Favre's jock. He can't count to ten. I think Tim Tebow will be his new Favre. He also likes to constantly remind us who he texts with and who he talks to on their cell phone. Grow up.

I know it's the off season but write about something relevant or don't write anything. Just because SI.com gives you a column doesn't mean you have to fill it up. Write a line or two if that's all you can find to say.

I read King because occasionally he drops a good piece of info.

This week though it's the usual nonsense.

In his more than "Ten Things I Think I Think" bit, he bitches about cold weather Super Bowls. Talk about "Waaaahh!" Give me one reason why Super Bowls should be played exclusively indoors or in mild climate locations?

A direct quote from his column:

I think the thing about a Super Bowl in New Jersey in February 2014 -- which seems more and more likely with the vote due as early as May --is that too few people are thinking about the precedent it sets for future games in outdoor, cold-weather venues.

Really? Why is this a bad thing? He offers no reason why it would be ill advised to schedule Super Bowls in "bad weather" locations. All he goes on to state is if the it is awarded to New Jersey then Daniel Snyder, Pat Bowlen and Paul Allen will want Super Bowls too. And why shouldn't they want them? Why is Miami, San Diego or New Orleans any better than Washington, Denver or Seattle?

Just because people like the weather? Washington, Denver and Seattle have home field advantage in the elements. So why not give outdoor teams a chance to have an advantage in the Super Bowl. Why let the Colts, Saints or any indoor team have equal footing just because they play away from the elements? These teams and owners made their choices in playing indoors. Why penalize cities from hosting a Super Bowl just because other hosts are in potentially better weather places?

Football isn't a game for pansies. Playing outdoors is a big part of the game. I'd for once like to see teams battle it out in the weather for a title.

What if a Super Bowl is played in a torrential downpour in San Diego? Will King cry for games only in domed stadiums? Get a grip King and quit spewing your typical nonsense.

Tom Penders Out at Houston

Earlier today I was pondering the question of Tom Penders and his future as coach of the Houston Cougars basketball team.

Evidently someone answered the question for me. Penders will not return for the 2010-11 season.

Before the Cougars' run to the C-USA Tournament Championship, speculation leaned heavily toward Penders retiring.

I my mind, pure speculation on my part, Penders seemed content on collecting one last paycheck before officially retiring. He was hired to resurrect the Houston program. He helped the team recover from the disastrous run of Clyde McBrooks.

However I believe Penders took the Cougars as far as he could. I thank Penders for his contributions to the Cougar but his effort appeared to fall short. Penders trashed the UH facilities.

He didn't recruit Houston area players under the guise of not wanting to deal with AAU coaches. I think he had the Art Briles attitude that he couldn't compete with the bigger name schools so he went after some lower rated recruits or JUCOs. My problem with that thinking is you don't know unless you try. A glance at Houston roster and I count four players from the Houston area and three of them via junior college. Half the roster is built from transfers and junior college players. JUCO and transfers fit an immediate need but don't build a foundation for a program.

Penders was brought in to return the Cougars to the NCAA tournament. It took Penders six seasons to do it and a miraculous run to do it.

So I thank Penders for his effort. He brought back some pride to the Cougars this season but it was a long time coming. Penders probably reached his pinnacle at UH. Whether he retired or "retired", it is time to move on.

Houston's Return to the NCAAs, Arenas Still Doesn't Get It

Houston Cougars Return to NCAA Tournament
The last time the Cougars played in the NCAAs I was still a student at the University of Houston. Eighteen years ago and then the Coogs went into the wilderness.

The three headed monster of Clyde McBrooks (Clyde Drexler, Ray McCallum, Alvin Brooks) drove the Coogs into the ground. Drexler wasn't really interested in the job or recruiting so he left after two seasons. Brooks preceded Drexler and only managed one winning season. McCallum could never right the ship so Tom Penders was brought in.

Through all the coaching changes, the Cougars were stuck in reverse. Winning seasons were far and few between. Before the Cougars run in the C-USA tournament, many were calling for Penders' head on a platter.

For now the few souls that wander the hallowed halls of Hofheinz Pavillion are silent. For one year season, albeit a shaky one, the Cougars return from the wilderness and turn to sip the waters of the NCAA Tournament.

Arenas Still Doesn't Get It
Today's edition of the Sporting News Daily features a blurb from Esquire magazine's interview with Gilbert Arenas. Gilbert's quote on his run in with Javaris Crittenton:

We didn't have no problem. It was just some fun that got out of control.

Just some fun? Bringing guns to work and pulling them out after a contentious argument on the team plane? Risking your career and breaking the law over just some fun?

Thank you Arenas for clearing the air. The whole time I was under the impression that you had a beef with Crittenton and you wanted to scare or shoot him. I understand. It's how me and friends have fun when we play poker. If I think a friend cheated, I go to his place of business with a few guns and have fun.

Arenas tries to sound contrite earlier in the article and apologizes to the wife of the Wizard's late owner Abe Pollin. It appears that maybe there is some regret after all. Then he goes to his quote about fun. I think he still can't get his mind around how grave the situation is. Not only is his career in danger but his freedom is too.

I'm no gun control advocate. I don't believe guns need registration with the government. I believe laws should focus on punishing crimes carried out with guns. Making ownership illegal or requiring a permit to do so doesn't keep the guns out of hands of criminals. Gun control laws put an undue burden on law abiding citizens.

On the other hand, I have a very healthy respect for guns. I want to keep my health so I don't play with guns. Guns aren't toys. Arenas had every right to own guns. He crossed the line when he brought it in to practice and allegedly pulled it on Crittenton. Even if he thought he was only having "fun" what happens if he goes into rage during his confrontation? His fun could have cost a life or injured a person.

Despite all the jeopardy Arenas has created for himself, it appears that he still just doesn't get how serious his fun really was.