Bruce Pearl

Thanks to Doug for sending me this info on the new Tennessee bball coach...


The man has a 79% winning percentage. (231 - 46 at Southern Indiana, 88 - 38 at UWM for a total of 319 - 84).He took over programs that were winning 50% of their games and raised it to 80%.Southern Indiana:

He took over for Bo Ryan (a guy who won 78% of his games in his career before he got the job at Wisconsin) at UWM. Ryan is regarded as one of the best coaches in the Big Ten. He has no top 100 players and you can watch him today try to beat UNC in the elite 8.

Anyway here are the numbers for UWM:Before Ryan: 28 - 81Ryan: 30 - 27Pearl: 88 - 38Pearl was coach of the year in the horizon 3 years out of 4. He has raised some much excitement that they now play their games in a bigger arena in Milwaukee.

UWM has never made any post season...well Pearl has taken them to 2 NCAA's and 1 NIT in his 4 years (of course made the sweet sixteen this year).The other thing like I really like is that he's in his 40's and has history to fall back on with winning.

Most 'Hot' coaches are young and have done it for a couple of years then get's promoted. This guy was the fastest to 200 wins, rebuilt two programs and has never had a losing season in 13 years.

The man is a phenominal coach and you will be happy with not only winning, but having a great charasmatic steward of your basketball program.

Verno

Friday's Show

Possibly Jermaine Taylor on the boxing show.

On the Overtime show--

CBS Analyst Len Elmore

Grizzlies Scout Tony Barrone Jr.

GEORGE KARL ON INSIDE THE NBA

With me and Tillery tommorow morning. Bringin in another heavy hitter... Grandpa's station is bringing the pain.

Taylor and Hopkins in Memphis? And More...

Jermaine Taylor and Bernard Hopkins have decided to make a championship fight happen. Hopefully it will be in Memphis. I talked to the guys over at Prize Fight and they told me that they are in the running, but its not a sure thing.

The hang-up is ticket prices and whether or not Memphis could bring the box office sales that are needed for a fight of this magnitude. The prices are going to be really high and hopefully Prize Fight can get it worked out. I would love to see this fight here. Maybe I will be able to tell you that it will be soon. Vegas and L.A. are also in the running. Prize Fight has been working with Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy on a card for April, so that relationship is there. Hopkins is of course with Golden Boy, and someone from his camp said that the fight would be in Memphis. Here's hoping he is right...

Here is the article on the fight by Dan Rafael--http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=2019147

I can't believe I drafted Bonds first in my fantasy draft. Unfreakinbelievable. In the words of Barry, "I am just tired." Tired of all my first rounders getting hurt every year!

tomorrow on Gary Parrish Wednesdays...

Manhattan Coach Bobby Gonzalez

Bil "Spaceman" Lee

possibly the coach from Laurenburg

possibly Len Elmore from CBS

As always... email me with any guest ideas that you have and we will do our best to make it happen. Tell a friend about the show... grassroots radio.

Verno

Some stuff from the show today...

Ole Miss fiasco with the assistant coach is totally absurd...

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050320/SPORTS030103/503200378/1109


Bobby Knight just cannot help himself...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2018104

I will update the blog this afternoon.

Verno

Tigers vs. Louisville Part 2

Gary Parrish writes a post-game article
http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/tigers_mens_basketball/article/0,1426,MCA_652_3617944,00.html

Geoff Calkins writes a column
http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/sports_columnists/article/0,1426,MCA_468_3617324,00.html

As I said yesterday, I have never really felt like I would throw up at a game as it completed. I did yesterday. Darius Washington will never forget what happened on Saturday, and none of us that were in the arena and watched it will either.

It was the best college basketball game that I have ever seen in person. The swings of emotions that were part of that game will be unmatched for some time.

There is not a kid that grew up playing sports that hasn't taken those free throws in his backyard thousands of times. In the backyard, the pressure isn't the same, and you always win.
Unfortunately that is not real life.

No one blames Darius, except Darius. He was the reason that the Tigers were even in that position, but he doesn't want to hear that.

I thought John Calipari coached an incredible tournament. With literally hours to prepare for each game, he had the Tigers prepared to attack whatever was thrown at them.

The Tigers made an incredible run at a bid for the tournament. They had the coaching, the effort, and the chance to seal the deal. Unfortunately, Darius wasn't in the backyard, he was in front of millions with the burden of hope riding on the shots he would shoot.

Here is hoping he forgives himself...

It was classic drama, no matter the outcome. Totally unforgettable.

Tigers vs Louisville

I have never in my life really thought I was going to throw up at a game. I did today. Totally excruciating loss. I will give my total thoughts tomorrow.

Verno

Conference Tournaments Set

Here are the tourney layouts for CUSA and the SEC. I love conference tournaments and I'm glad that we have one in Memphis. My shows on Wed and Thurs will be shortened, as we are carrying the CUSA tournament on Sports 56. Memphis gets St. Louis in the first round... how about making a bad-shooting team shoot this time around?

Here's how the tourneys look

CUSA http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/champweek2005/news/story?page=cusa

SEC http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/champweek2005/news/story?page=sec

Neither conference has a dominating team, so these should be fun to watch.

Verno

OH GREAT-- BONZI HITS IL

Bonzi Wells has been placed on the injured list with a herniated disc in his back. I am glad I have this blog for this reason. Andre Emmett has been activated. Here is the release.

GRIZZLIES PLACE BONZI WELLS ON THE INJURED LIST;
ACTIVATE GUARD ANDRE EMMETT

Memphis, Tennessee — The Memphis Grizzlies today placed guard Bonzi Wells on the injured list with a slightly herniated disc in his back and activated guard Andre Emmett from the injured list.

Through 51 games played, Wells averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.27 steals in 22.2 minutes per game. He was shooting 41.7% from the field and a 36.9% from three-point range. In Tuesday’s game against the Warriors, he left the game in the second quarter with back spasms. An MRI on Wednesday at the Campbell Clinic revealed a slightly herniated disc. He is expected to miss two to three weeks to undergo treatment.

Emmett was placed on the injured list on Jan. 25 with a right ankle sprain. Through four games played this season, he is averaging 1.0 points, 0.3 rebounds and 2.0 minutes.

The Friday show

I hope you got to hear Rick Glazer on the Boxing show this morning. We talked about how Showtime is going to be free for cable subscribers this weekend and you can watch the fights that they have. Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy is a guy that I like-- but Glazer killed his opponent Reuben Williams--- saying he was a bum with no chin and no heart and the fight would be over in the first or second round. It was hilarious. Everyone agreed that the Main Event--- Diaz/ Castillo-- would be a great fight. Check it out if you get a chance.

I have a problem with Memphis not being sure about playing Louisville or Cincy next year. I thought it should have been made a sure thing. R.C. Was sure about it a week ago, and now nobody is sure? I thought that Peter and Eli did a good job of getting answers from Bonowski this morning.

rumors include Mike Anderson to UT if they fire Buzz, and Matt Doherty to East Carolina.

Jason Ferguson (DT Cowboys) signed a 9 mil. Signing bonus and was on the show today. He was a great interview. I thought it was hilarious when I asked him if he blamed Doug Brien for the loss to Pittsburgh in the playoffs and he laughed and said, "Yeah, I blame him."

Let me know what guests you want to hear on the show. Bill "Spaceman" Lee has been confirmed for the 16th. I encourage you to let me know who you want to hear and we will make it happen if we can.

I am going to be getting together your chance to meet the great Sandy at a remote soon.

Verno

Tigers vs. St. Louis

I went to the game last night. It was pitiful. Totally ridiculous.

Greetings from the Lou

I am going to the Memphis game tonight.

Inside the NBA will have Brian Cardinal, Pete Praneca, and Mark Spears on it.

Gary Parrish Wednesdays will be broadcast from my parents house.

Verno

Headin to St. Louis

Today the show will come to you from Isaac Hayes place down at Peabody Place. I will only be on for an hour- which will be the Jersey Mikes Square Table. We have set up blogs for Rob and Eli if you click on the Square Table link on the front page.

tomorrow the show will be live from St. Louis before the Memphis/ St. Louis game. Gary will be on with me there.

I had a terrible feeling that Pau would not be coming back this year, and today's article didn't help things.

There is something wrong with how the deal was made if the Tigers don't play Louisville after they leave. There shouldn't even be a question about it.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING ON THE WEBSITE, OR THE SHOW, EMAIL ME AT CHRIS@CVERNON.COM. WE HAVE A FEW NEW ONES COMING ON AND WOULD LOVE TO ADVERTISE FOR YOU TO.

Thanks for listening to the show.

Chris

You Gotta see this

Pat Forde article on Cal and Memphis. He quotes Lapides and Calkins. Let me know what you think about it.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=1999549
Verno

The Friday Show

I hope you enjoyed Kennedy McKinney. I thought he was a man with a great story to tell. Someone should make a movie about him

Jim Denton is incredibly insightful when it comes to the business of football and I look forward to talking to him after the combine.

Chuck House (Tiger fan) has done a remarkable job of getting the Tiger Tailgate together. Go out to the lot across from the Forum tommorow morning at 10 if you get a chance.

I was dissapointed that the Grizz were totally inactive.

John Chaney should be fired-- not suspended. His behavior is sickening. Here is the story.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=1999665

Thanks for listening to the show.

Check out FOX 13 at 9:45 tonight. I will be on Sports Chat with Gary and the Fox crew.

Tigers get hosed

The Tigers Get Hosed in Charlotte

I typically don’t like it when announcers blame the refs for a loss…but if there was a time, it was last night. It seems incomprehensible that officials on that level, in a game of that magnitude, could be so incompetent. I tuned into the post-game and thought that Coach Cal was extremely low-key in dealing with what was a travesty. Now, that being said, I think he was right when he said that toughness made the difference and that Charlotte made the tough plays down the stretch.

A couple of observations from the game…

Darius is as good offensively as you will find a freshman…anywhere. He was spectacular.

Martin Iti was debating on heading to the draft after last year? hahahahahahahahaha…. come on… can we please get serious?

Why was Lutz telling them to double Erwin? I could not understand. Red did a great job of making them pay for that.

How does Basden cradle the ball like that when he dunks? Gary was right, he is their best player.

Barclay hits the deck so much that the refs don’t know when to call the charge. Many of them may be charges but he either flops or takes one so often that I can see where that is hard to call.

Memphis has to get the rebound when the guy misses 2 FT’s with 3.9 secs left. You just have to get that ball.

Plavich hit some absurd 3’s…from Egypt.

The officiating was criminal. I hope the refs get punished…but do I trust Bonowski to be a tough guy? It means too much for it to be so bad.

I was really impressed with the way the Tigers played.

The Website

Thanks for all of your input. The site is undergoing some major changes that I think you will love. Stay tuned and thanks for sticking with us.

Verno

One of the legends of broadcasting....

Dick Enberg will be on the show today. Dick has a new book named "Oh My!!!" I read the book and thought it was fantastic. I am so glad that we are having him on the show. You wont believe all the jobs he has had.

I thought Sylvester Croom was good yesterday. I like the guy and I think his team will show improvement this year.

I thought Ozzie Smith's kid was awesome on American Idol. Yeah I watch it.

Remember the Titans.

Some of you will remember my old football analyst and friend Tim Lester (former QB for the Xplorers). I heard from him this morning and he is coaching at the school where he played... Western Michigan. He will be a head coach.

NBA Weekend, Daytona, and the rest of the weekend

Never let a white guy enter the dunk contest again unless it is Henry Bekkering. Remember this guy that I had the video of a month or so ago? Chris Anderson just became a huge joke. It was like looking at the kid that swings at 86 piches in parent-pitch t-ball.

Here is Bekkering.........go to hooplife.ca and then click on video-- he is the 3rd one down


The halftime show at the All-Star game was the worst in the history of western civilization.

How can you not love watching Iverson play?

Tony Stewart is coming out with his new book... "How to Lose Daytona"

The Tigers looked good against Southern Miss. This is going to be the make or break week for the Tigers with Charlotte and Louisville coming up.

I went and watched Thadeus Young play on Friday night. He is the truth. Mitchell smoked Raleigh-Egypt.

This week on the show

Monday-- Sylvester Croom

Tuesday-- Dick Endberg

Wedenesday-- John Feinstein

Thanks for listening

Verno

This is gonna be nice

Thanks for coming to the site and checking out the new features that we have added. This is the blog that I will use to update the site on a regular basis. My hope is that this will a place that you can come to when you want to get updates on what is going on locally and nationally. This is going to provide us the chance to have new content up on a much more regular basis than we did with the old site. I want to thank Ashley for all of his incredible help in making the site happen and continuing to improve it. He has worked way to much to make this happen for me, and I couldn't ask for a better friend and worker. Between Ashley, the Cobra (Keith), and Will, I have a group of incredible guys that help make the show and the site as good as they can be. I am indebted to them. Again, thank you all for coming to the site.

Verno