Category → General
Jayhawk Thoughts: Sometimes Life Gets In The Way of Blogging…
To those of you that follow this blog and have been supportive, thank you, thank you, thank you. I wish I was able to get out a Jayhawk post every day, or even every week, but sometimes life gets in the way. Missy and I have recently taken trips to Austin, TX and Denver, CO and those trips have forced me, at times against my own wishes, to have to (gasp!) DVR recent KU basketball games and miss both the historical come from behind football victory over Colorado and the Nebraska pay-per-view game that ends one of the oldest, uninterrupted rivalries in college football history.
So, now that I’ve been able to catch up on the DVR’d games and gather details of the football games, here’s a few quick hits of what’s been going through my mind lately: Continue reading →
KU Athletic Director Lew Perkins “retires” early: Effective Immediately.
Put me on the list of people that aren’t shocked one bit by this announcement.
Big Lew previously hand-picked a date when he was going to retire and I’m guessing that the Chancellor wanted to go ahead and get on with it. Or maybe Big Lew figured he didn’t have anything left to do, so he might as well start enjoying the high life (as if he didn’t already) without having to deal with scrutiny from the media and fans. Or maybe Big Lew knows that there is more bad news coming his way and he wants to get out while he can. I’m sure there will be more rumors and speculation in the days to come, but my hunch is that the truth lies somewhere in between. Continue reading →
About Jaytalkers….
I LOVE the Bloody Mary's at Louise's West!
| I love the Kansas Jayhawks.
I love watching them. I love reading about them. I love writing about them. I love talking about them. I love bringing a group of friends together to watch a game. I love the emotional ups and downs that go with every play, every game, every season. I love spending time in Lawrence, KS soaking up the history and tradition that oozes from Allen Fieldhouse and Memorial Stadium. I met my wife Missy at KU and have countless friendships that started on The Hill. Those are just a few of the reasons I created JAYTALKERS. It’s a place for me to share my unbridled passion with my fellow Jayhawk fanatics. Thanks for stopping by… KEEP ROCKIN’ AND CHALKIN’, Mic Johnson |
 Mic and Missy get some TV time! |
Demonstrating the Walk, by Tom Wilbur
This letter made it’s way to me and I felt compelled to share it with everyone I know. This isn’t just a Jayhawk story…or a story about Bill Self…it’s a human story about a man named Chuck…and one that hits very close to home as I lost my dad to cancer when he was just 46 years old. Continue reading →
In Sport, In Life, at KU: Unselfishness is cool
I was reading an article recently that talked about KU quarterback/wide receiver/running back/punter/Mr. Everything Kerry Meier and his unselfish approach during Todd Reesing’s rise as KU’s undisputed signal caller. And it got me thinking.
Being unselfish is cool. You hear that kids? Heck, you hear that adults? It’s cool to be unselfish. Darn cool.
Last year one of the things I liked the most about the KU basketball team was how unselfish they were. In today’s age of “ME FIRST” and “IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS” athletes, it was refreshing to see a group of very talented athletes set their egos aside and work together, as a team, toward a common goal. We all know when a player says he’s about team, but then his actions on the court/field tell us differently. And last year’s KU basketball team, and presumably this year’s KU team, has that unselfish factor. And it’s cool. Darn cool.
As I’ve watched KU’s football team this year, one thing that stuck out to me immediately was how unselfish the players were. Watch for yourself. EVERY time a player makes a good play…and, more importantly, a not-so-good play…there are MULTIPLE teammates coming over to congratulate or pick that player up. It’s so refreshing. And it’s cool. Darn cool. Not only is this KU team playing like no other KU team of recent memory. Not only does this KU team have the ability to do something no other KU team has ever done. Not only is this KU team a joy to watch. Not only are Mark Mangino and his coaching staff doing an incredible job. But they are all doing it unselfishly. It’s all for one and one for all. And it’s genuine. And it’s cool. Darn cool.
What other teams can you think of off the top of your head that epitomize the “Unselfishness is cool” mantra? The first team that comes to my mind is the New England Patriots. Yeah, yeah, we know about the infamous sideline videotaping “scandal” that was way overblown, but watch those Patriots players on Sunday. It’s all about the team. It’s all about putting your individual ego and goals to the side and sacrificing for the greater good of the team. I mean, seriously, even Randy Freakin’ Moss has been converted under the all-consuming aura of unselfishness that infiltrates every individual in the Patriots organization. It’s cool. Darn cool.
Ditto for the San Antonio Spurs. They win championships. They do it unselfishly. Anyone surprised that Mr. Unselfish, Jacque Vaughn, is a part of that team? It’s so cool, isn’t it? Darn cool.
You hear people talk about how sports sometimes imitate life. It is my hope that, in this instance, life will start imitating the examples of unselfishness in sport. So do something for someone else today….and every day. Put your ego aside. You don’t need it. At the end of the day, it’s not about what you do for yourself or what you can get or buy for yourself. It’s what you do for others, what you do for the greater good, that will be remembered.
And the bonus?
It’s cool. Darn cool.
Keep Rockin’ and Chalkin’,
Mic
kumic94@gmail.com
KU Sports: To Blog or Not To Blog?
That was the question I had to ask myself a couple of years ago when a friend of mine kept telling me that blogs were the future and that I should start my own Jayhawk blog to share my passion of KU basketball with others. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a KU football fan too, but honest enough to say that basketball is my first love. Always has been. Growing up, I had the build to play football, so I did, but I went out for the basketball team too in hopes that they would have a need for a 5’11″ “big guy” that thought he could shoot the 3. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, but my passion for basketball continued and reached a whole new level as I experienced game after game in Allen Fieldhouse my freshman year: 1990.
Over the last several years, I’ve been on various Jayhawk boards and written articles for a couple of Jayhawk web sites. Each had their own advantages and disadvantages, so I decided to start my blog, Jaytalkers.com, so I could have a place to share my thoughts and opinions with others. Mind you, I’m not trying to CHANGE anyone’s opinion or force my beliefs on them. I’m just sharing one man’s view of all things Jayhawk.
So while Jaytalkers.com will continue and has some of my historical blogging for those that are interested, I now enter a new venture with The Topeka Capitol Journal and will be blogging for them on KU Sports at least a couple of times a week during the football and basketball seasons.
To give you a little more info on how I view things as a Jayhawk fan:
*I LOVE Jayhawk Basketball. The amount of time and effort I put in watching, reading, writing and talking about the games during the season can only be described as “fanatical”. My wife may choose a different phrase. Thankfully, we just celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary, so I think I’m ok. Hey, look, she knew what she was getting into when she married me (She’s a Jayhawk fan too. We met at KU. But she’s just not a freak about it like I am.)
* My approach as a fan, after years of getting my hopes way up only to have them inevitably crushed, is to take the games one at a time. I know it’s cliché, but I’m not going to walk around with my chest pumped out as though we are taking over college football (or basketball for that matter) because I’ve seen way too many fans from MU and KSU look ridiculous for doing that very thing only to have the bubble explode in their faces for the nation to see. (Note: KSU Nation is ALREADY doing it with the ridiculous over-hyping of Michael Beasley. I’m not saying he won’t be a good, or maybe great, player, but let’s wait to see him actually PLAY A GAME IN COLLEGE before we start comparing him to LeBron James or Kevin Durant.)
*In the end, as much as I want to go “all in” and believe that KU, in football and/or basketball, is a team of destiny, it just hurts too much to set that expectation in my mind/heart only to have it burst. IF KU were to win a national title in either sport, I would celebrate to the point of exhaustion and, most likely, tears. And I’m not joking.
But until then, I don’t get too high after wins and I don’t get too low after losses. I haven’t always been that way. That approach has been molded after years of heartbreak after getting too emotionally invested. It’s like putting your heart and soul into the relationship with your first love….and then finding out later she cheated on you. The pain is just too great. So, if I were to label myself as a Jayhawk fan, I would say that I am predominately CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.
At the end of the day, I bleed Crimson and Blue and always will. I hope that the readers of the Topeka Capitol Journal enjoy reading what I write and I look forward to fine-tuning my own fanaticism with the combined wit and intelligence of the KU fan base.
Keep Rockin’ and Chalkin,
Mic
kumic94@gmail.com
Why are KU basketball fans so negative right now?
This question came up the other day and below is my response:
My thought is what I’ve said several times before “There are ignorant fans in every fan base. MU just has a larger percentage.”
It is TOTALLY hang over from Bucknell and Bradley mixed with a couple of ORU and DePaul cocktails. And for Average Joe KU fan, it doesn’t help that KSU fans are overreacting with joy and glee to the hire of Bob Huggins and every recruit he signs, or having to listen to all of the “MU is 9-1 and better than expected” talk, or knowing that WSU has a better record and ranking right now while playing better team basketball than the Jayhawks.
Couple all of that with the fact that all of the above mentioned schools also have ignorant fan bases who relish the idea that KU is slipping, choke in the tournament, etc, etc., and they just flame the fires of an already frustrated fan base.
And, for the cherry on top, you have 2 players listed as the preseason conference players of the year, one player as a preseason All American, talk about losing 2-3 guys to the NBA after the season, returning five starters from last year while losing two walk-ons and adding two McDonald’s All Americans…all of that leads to very high and typically unrealistic expectations.
The average KU fan doesn’t think about all of the success we’ve had (Bill Self has 1 Elite Eight appearance, 2 conference championships, 1 conference tournament championship, a 75% winning percentage, in 3 years at KU), they just focus solely on recent tournament losses and a couple of early season unexpected losses. And the reaction is to “freak out” and think the sky is falling. Actually, that’s the reaction of an ignorant fan.
The rest of us know that KU basketball will continue to be successful and be one of the best programs in the history of college basketball.
Just my $.02.
College Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
(Click the title of this post to see pictures from the event)
As some of you may know, the first-ever College Basketball Hall of Fame is being built in downtown Kansas City. On Sunday night, I was fortunate enough to attend a reception and the inagural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
The inagural Hall of Fame class was represented by 5 men whose names are synonomous with college basketball success: James Naismith, John Wooden, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson and Dean Smith.
It was an amazing event and I was a kid in a candy store surrounded by so many great college coaches and players.
Below are some notes/highlights of the evening for me. Also click the photo album below to see some of the pictures from the night.
It was a great evening and a night this Jayhawk, and college basketball, fan will never forget.
Rock Chalk,
Mic
John Wooden–96 years old, but still amazingly sharp-minded. Being around him was awe-inspiring. I was also fortunate enough to get him to sign my program (along with Dean Smith and Bill Walton). He won multiple National Championships at UCLA.
James Naismith’s grandson–Did a nice job speaking on behalf of his grandfather and illustrated how important it is for the Naismith family to be a part of the event. The Naismith family also has a foundation that helps get children interested in and involved in sports.
Bill Russell–played college basketball for the University of San Francisco and then played several years in the NBA with the Boston Celtics. Was a part of a high school championship, two college national championships and ELEVEN NBA championships.
Oscar Robertson–played for the University of Cincinnati and later in the pros. Is the only player to have averaged a triple double (points, assists, rebounds) in a college season.
Dean Smith–grew up in Kansas; played at KU under Phog allen; currently the coach with the most wins in NCAA history.
Billy Packer–CBS analyst; he was the emcee for the evening and did a nice job and was very complimentary of Kansas City’s roots, history and tradition as it relates to college basketball.
Bill Walton–introduced John Wooden with a very long and funny speech–played for Wooden at UCLA, played in the NBA, and now is an NBA broadcaster.
Max Falkenstein–Recently retired KU broadcaster. Had called KU games on the radio for 60 years. A KU icon.
Larry Brown–Led KU to the 1988 National Championship. The only coach to have won a championship as a coach in college, in the NBA and in the Olympics.
Bob Frederick–former KU athletic director.
Christian Moody, Patrick Richey–former KU basketball players.
C. M. Newton–former Athletic Director at the University of Kentucky.
Mike Kryzweiski–Head coach at Duke University.
Bobby Knight–Former head coach at Indiana University. Now the coach at Texas Tech.
Denny Crum–Former Louisville head coach.
Steve Lavin–Former UCLA Bruin head coach. Currently an ESPN analyst. He made a funny comment about Bill Walton, saying “I owe a lot to Bill Walton. He helped me get a job at ESPN after UCLA handed me my pink slip. He never liked me when I was coaching at UCLA, but he helped me get a job during a very difficult time.”
Mike Jarvis–Former head coach at George Washington University and St. John’s University. Does some tv broadcasting.
Johnny Dawkins–Assistant Head Coach at Duke University and former Duke player.
Also, there were video excerpts from Dick Vitalke, Roy Williams and Wayne Embry and the night ended with a song by legendary KC blues/jazz singer Ida McBeth.
Some things never change
The LJWorld continues to report on our former coach.
Roy continues his annual summer “aw shucks, I suck at golf” comments.
Finally, rumors have it that Roy’s back has been ailing him for a couple of years due to a big load of guilt on his shoulders. Doctors say the guilt can not ever be removed.– Mic
Tar Heels coach battling bad back
Posted Saturday, June 24, 2006
North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams disclosed at his annual summertime news conference that he is having back and leg pain caused by sciatica.
The former Kansas University coach told Carolina media members he may need back surgery.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports Williams has had 10 appointments with a chiropractor, eight with an acupuncturist and has taken three epidural shots.
“And I can’t break 80,” Williams said of his golf game. “I’ve got a bulging disk that is pinching the sciatic nerve. It’s very painful at times. Down the road there’s probably going to have to be some surgery but I think with the medical people we have here I can push that way down the road.
“My golf game’s worse — I think I’ll go down in history as having the best reputation and the worst game of any golfer ever.”
First Half Thoughts–KU vs. Fort Hays State
KU forced 9 TO’s in the first 8 minutes. Quick, quick, quick hands!
Anyone else in love with Mario Chalmers yet?
Nice give and go from Rush to Sasha for a dunk early in the game.
Oh and did I mention the defense? Wow…I love the full court pressure….I love the intensity.
And how about CJ Giles showing some range on a couple of nice jumpers?
This team is going to be A LOT of fun to watch if they bring this type of intensity night in and night out.
Dear Sasha: Please call 1-800-I-Need-Help-With-My-Free Throw-Shooting. A little arc might help as generally the ball doesn’t go in when you throw it in a straight line at the rim.
Clearly this team is learning who can score and will go through some lapses where no one really wants to take the shot. CJ seems like the only one that isn’t a bit gun shy….but the unselfishness is nice to see across the board.
Hawkins with 3 fouls in the first 16 minutes….but also three 3′s.
Mic
