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Introductory ColumnGeorge GearhartLet the kids playI hate the two-in-four rule. When I get home from a Mizzou scrimmage in time to catch the end of a Preseason NIT game, I get frustrated. I get jealous. Just let the kids play. Since I've been old enough to buy a bingo scratch-and-win (or an adult novelty magazine), the Tigers haven't gone this far into November without playing a regular season game. Last year, the home tipoff against American was held on November 22nd. Since the 1998-1999 season, the average date of the first game has been around the 15th. This season? You guessed it, November 29th. And the first home game isn't until month number twelve. The Guardian's Classic was fun, right? Why not play in it every year? Or the Maui, or the Top of the World Shootout? The two-in-four rule "allows institutions to participate in certified events for no more than two years during a four-year period". What a shame, especially with the squad that Quin Snyder has this season. Instead of three or four games for the price of one, we get to eat turkey before the first real contest. I guess, on the bright side, there's a challenging schedule marching this way. But still, at least make it three-in-four, or toss the rule altogether, if only for fans like me. Please, just let the kids play. How much do these seats cost, again? I lucked into a nice set of tickets for the scrimmage tonight. A17, Row 2, Seats 7-8. When I sat up straight, I still wasn't as tall as Kevin Young. And when one of the players let out an "unsafe for television" comment after a rough foul or iffy whistle, I didn't have to lip-read. Easily the best seats I've had for a sporting event that didn't involve junior high athletes. The cost of each ticket? $22.00, but I swear I've never seen them for sale online. And I've never known anyone who found a pair that cheap a half-hour before game time in the Faurot parking lot. Missouri state law forbids the sale of a ticket "to any public sporting event for a price in excess of the price printed on the ticket". But I tell you what, if you have the chance sometime, grab a couple 2nd or 3rd row seats from your friendly neighborhood scalper. I could almost see my reflection on the glossy wood court, and it's a whole nother world when you're watching the game that close. Asheville Altitude The other night's final tune-up was against the NBDL's Asheville Altitude, a collection of former college and pro players who are hanging onto that dream of making it to The League. If the CBA and European leagues are filled with Americans who weren't good enough to find a roster spot in the NBA, the NBDL must consist of the guys who couldn't cut it in Europe. That said, this Asheville team was big, and physical. Maybe a stretch, but the Altitude, somewhat appropriately named, probably have more size than any team on Mizzou's schedule this season. I look at that as an advantage, though, even if parts of the game weren't pretty. The Tigers frontcourt didn't have a lot of room to maneuver in the post, which is currently widened to a trapezoid, thanks to an NCAA experimental rule. AJ had to work hard to score his eight from the floor (some related news: he was 4-4 from the foul line, and looks like he's improved his form). Slashers Ricky Paulding, Jimmy McKinney and Thomas Gardner had trouble finding an open lane, and the threes weren't falling with regularity (5-22 for the game), so it was tough to spread the court. The first half was slow and sloppy, to be kind. Sloppy passing, sloppy in-bound plays, sloppy ballhandling, and a tempo appropriate for a toddler's music lesson. The first fast break points that I remember came some eighteen minutes into the game, courtesy of a half-court steal by our center, no less. But the team hustled and played defense, and walked through the tunnel for intermission down only a point, 30-29. More scoring would have been nice, but the game was far from over. The last twenty minutes were a different story. Maybe Quin's extended half-time speech (there was about a minute left on the jumbotron when the team finally came out) had something to do with that. Or maybe it was freshman Linas Kleiza's grit and determination underneath. Guys were diving for balls, spreading the court, attacking the middle, and putting the ball in the basket. The Tigers netted 15 of their 23 field goals in the second half, and it wasn't because of outside shooting. Kleiza, AJ, Kevin Young, and Josh Kroenke were active on the boards, creating second chances and keeping Asheville away from loose balls. Final score: Mizzou 74, Asheville 60. If you stayed (or watched) through the second half, you had to be mildly pleased. The Fine Line The Tip of My Tounge This is my painter's canvas, a chance to run my mouth about Mizzou, sports in general, and whatever else has piqued my interest lately. Keyshawn Johnson, it's about time someone told you to take a hike. While your cousin was busy fulfilling a prophecy in Cinci last week, you ran your mouth for the last time, in Tampa, at least. Kleiza's hook pass across the baseline tonight, an assist on a Kroenke trey, was pretty. Soccer phenom Freddy Adu, just 14-years old, made national news again this week, and is set to play for the MLS' D.C. United next season. Take that, Lebron James. When I sat down at the game tonight, I took a quick glance around and noticed Randy Pulley standing about fifteen feet away, watching from the tunnel while his teammates warmed up. He didn't look like he was having much fun. Once I started writing this (I decided not to delve into our PG situation in the recap above, opting to see how things pan out in the first few games against normal competition), I began to wonder: with all the jinxes supposedly floating around, the Sports Illustrated jinx, the Madden jinx; does Quin Snyder have a Point Guard jinx? The last solid PG to play for Mizzou was Brian Grawer, and he arrived on campus well before Quin did. Hopefully Pulley will pan out, and hopefully we won't have any problems with Jason Horton next year. But in the mean time, JMac might want to watch his back. Who works for Mediacom? I need someone to explain to me why I have to get digital cable to have ESPN2. 7,102 fans attended the scrimmage tonight. If each one of them would have given me just one dollar, I could have easily purchased an automobile, something I've never owned. I love Barry Bonds, but I'd rather have A-Rod on my team right now. Someone needs to track this stat: Number of penalties assessed to the Oakland Raiders while their fab four are suspended. If you think spam and pop-up ads are bad, count your blessings that you don't ride the subways in Paris on a daily basis. I'm actually thankful that I've never been to Paris. My buddy Josh, seat 8 to my seat 7, looked at me just before the second half started and said, "Do you think we're going to win this game because we're supposed to win this game?" It took me a second to understand what he was implying -- he thought, maybe, that Asheville was letting us hang around, since it was a meaningless game for them. After the final buzzer, I was fairly convinced that we won because we were the better team. You can reach George by sending an email to georgetb@horklezorp.com. |
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