John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

Thinking out loud…and wondering how we ever managed 2 do w/o txt msgs…

• A few thoughts on the Friars and Rams from Thursday night…one, I really like URI’s Jordan Hare. He reminds me of a younger Joakim Noah, with his gangly style and ability to run the floor. Don’t want to put the pressure on him yet, because he’ll need to grow (out, especially)…but he’s got future pro potential…

• A few readers have suggested we’re missing the BIG story here with the Friars…that this undermanned group isn’t getting enough “love” from me, or anyone else who covers the team. Quite the contrary. Joe Hassett and I talk about it a lot during the game broadcasts. The Friars fight, they play defense, they work hard to improve. And even if reinforcements weren’t on their way – which they are – I’d like the “sexy six” or “superlative seven” to pick off a Big East heavyweight this year…

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• Kadeem Batts has worked very hard on becoming a true post scoring threat. He can go with either hand – which is rare – and his 18-foot jumper is dead on. Quite the transformation…

• And as much as Batts has improved, Bryce Cotton might be at a different level altogether. Besides developing true point guard skills, he’s gone from “soft and shy” as a freshman to “tough and talented” as a junior. His presence in Thursday night’s game with URI was enough to get the Friars over the hump…even on just one good leg…

• Speaking of point guards…Vincent Council told ScoutFriars Richard Coren he’ll be ready for Colgate on the 18th. If so, that’s quite the early holiday gift…1st team all-Big East Council, McDonald’s all-American Kris Dunn and 6-9 Arizona transfer Sidiki Johnson all under the tree?

• Brady Quinn’s post-game interview after Kansas City’s win over Carolina had very little to do with a game…and a lot to do with humanity. One of the best I’ve heard…

• Signs that the sport of football is changing – a report this week in the Boston Globe shows evidence of brain damage is mounting from head injuries suffered playing football. It would be easy to offer a quip here, but actually, I think I’ll pass…

• New definition of “spoiled?” No champagne sprayed. No hat and t-shirt celebration. No victory laps. A 10th AFC East title in 12 years probably should be cause for celebration…but not with these Patriots – or their fans…

• Tom Brady is the first starting QB in NFL history to win 10 division titles. Think about that for a second…and as you do, perhaps you’ll get a clearer picture of the new definition of “spoiled…”

• Since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger, the scorecard now reads: AFC East titles for Miami, 13; AFC East titles for New England, 14…

• And think about this – Wes Welker now has 17 career games with 10 or more receptions in his career (counting last Sunday in Miami), which ties him with Hall-of-Famer Jerry Rice for most all-time. He did drop a touchdown pass last week, however…just sayin’…

• Is that a little like saying the Mona Lisa has a frown on her face?

• I’ve heard of “going off the deep end,” but this is pretty much a head-scratcher…

• Watching Georgetown on the tube a few times has me wondering how they keep doing what they do. They lost three top scorers from a year ago, but the way they dismantled Texas this past week, they look better than they were a year ago. And they were 24-9. Or, Texas just isn’t good. Probably a little of both…

• NC State looked good in Puerto Rico, then ran into Oklahoma State and got whacked in the finals. Count me as not impressed with the pre-season ACC fave, especially after UConn should have beaten them this week. The Huskies, however, don’t have much inside, despite Enosch Wolf getting 12 and 9. The guards will have to carry the day…

• The sport of college basketball lost a great coach last week with Rick Majerus’ passing. He’d been known to be in poor health for some time, still, at age 64 his death is hard to fathom. He had great teams at Utah, and was building something special at Saint Louis…

• Little known fact: Did you know that Majerus gave Celtics’ coach Doc Rivers his nickname? Glenn Rivers arrived at a Marquette basketball camp, where Majerus was coaching at the time, wearing a “Dr. J” t-shirt…and Majerus never missed a chance to bust chops. The name stuck…

• Stupid is as stupid does…Rutgers is suing the Big East so they don’t have to wait 27 months to leave for the Big 10. Are they better than Syracuse, Pitt, WVU and even TCU…who all had to pay to play elsewhere early? Umm…how about this? Give us all a fin and we’ll let you go early…

• Sorry, but I’m calling BS on this one…UConn school president Susan Herbst is still working on an appeal for the men’s basketball team to play in the Big East Tournament next March in NYC, despite their ban for academic deficiencies. “It’s a great moment for camaraderie and solidarity for the Big East,” she told the Hartford Courant…

• This is the same school, and president, that would leave the Big East in a heartbeat if the ACC called. Really? Was she looking anyone in the eyes when she said that?

• Oh, but President Herbst has said that she plans on making her “student athletes” a priority at UConn. Hmmm…that’s great. I’ll wager my season tickets against yours, Madame President, that if the ACC calls you’ll see to it your “student athletes” are up to any new challenges extra travel might present…

• And then, she’ll sue the Big East to get out early, just like Rutgers. Bank on it…

• If you’re a college basketball fan, you have probably had your fill of realignment talk and expansionist ideas thrown your way. Me too. But…how do you think some of the elite recruits in upcoming classes feel about it? Perhaps this is telling…

• The Big 10 isn’t done at 14 teams. Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said this week in New York there are “advantages to 16 (teams) compared to 14.” Batten down the hatches. And pucker your lips, UConn, Cincinnati and USF…

• And someone (team?) who is quietly going about its business of getting ready to “ramp up” for the Big East – SMU. Larry Brown is making an impact, and Rhody gets the Mustangs at the Ryan Center on December 15th…

• What’s wrong with the college football bowl system? Obvious answer. There’s just too many teams rewarded for mediocrity. Everyone gets a trophy! Back in the day (insert old man accent here)…a team actually had to be GOOD to get into a bowl game…

• And when the BCS dies after next year, and we go to this four-team playoff? Betcha it gets worse, before it ever gets better…

• Best last request I’ve ever heard…I can’t get this confirmed, but it’s just too funny not to share. Allegedly, a Dallas Cowboys’ fan asked for Tony Romo to be a pallbearer at his funeral as a last request…so Romo could let him down one last time…

• Tweet of the week, from ESPN’s Sports Business reporter @darrenrovell – “Avg age of car buyer: Land Rover 47, Audi 49, Acura 50, Ferrari 52, Mercedes 52, Rolls 54, Lexus 55, Cadillac 57, Lincoln 60” What, no Datsun buyers?

• Oh, and one more from @darrenrovell - “The avg cost of a beer at an NBA game this season is $7.08.” Jeez, can I go to the Garden, buy a beer and bring it with me to Fenway next spring?

• Speaking of next spring, while the Red Sox have made me YAWN so far during the winter meetings, one item of note has caught my attention – Kevin Youkilis, perhaps, to the Yankees? Now…you have my attention, baseball…

• Once again, the hex works – LaSalle takes the regular season, but when it comes to the big game, Hendricken takes the crown. Congratulations to coach Keith Croft (and his rightfully proud papa Buddy) on the Hawks’ RI Division I Super Bowl win for a job well done, again…

• Thanksgiving leftovers – literally: a friend of mine recently told me a story about walking into a nice, cozy house with an immaculate kitchen that smelled of all the good things Thanksgiving usually brings. Nice, right? Except for the fact that he noticed a wire strung across one of the walls…and on this wire were roughly 30 wishbones hung like they were trophies displayed on a mantle. Complete with pieces of rotted meat still on them (correct, they were NOT cleaned), he was told they represented each of the past 30 Thanksgiving turkeys the home’s occupants had enjoyed. He hasn’t been back to that kitchen…

• My buddy Statbeast sez he’s got the perfect recipe for cooking his Thanksgiving turkey, and that it turned out so well, he’s gonna have Mrs. Statbeast try it again for Xmas. Here it is, give it a try:

Step 1: Go buy a turkey.
Step 2: Take a drink of whiskey, scotch, or bourbon.
Step 3: Put turkey in the oven.
Step 4: Take another 2 drinks of whiskey.
Step 5: Set the degree at 375 ovens.
Step 6: Take 3 more whiskeys of drink.
Step 7: Turn oven the on.
Step 8: Take 4 whisks of drinky.
Step 9: Turk the bastey.
Step 10: Glass yourself a pour of whiskey.
Step 11: Bake the whiskey for 4 hours.
Step 12: Take the oven out of the turkey.
Step 13: Floor the turkey up off the pick.
Step 14: Turk the carvey.
Step 15: Get yourself another scottle of botch.
Step 16: Tet the sable and pour yourself a glass of turkey.
Step 17: Bless the saying, pass and eat out.

• Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the very first SMS text message ever sent – which, by the way, was “Merry Christmas.” SMS stands for “Short Message Service,” developed by Finnish technology pioneer Matti Makkonen, and obviously it has greatly changed the way in which we communicate in the 21st century, with a language all its own. Many times, not for the better, btw. It’s tough having to interpret what someone is trying to say…and often times feel like, ‘jeez, if you can pick up a phone to text, you can pick it up to call, too.” Right? OMG, g2g!

• Our mailbag question/comment this week comes from @Craigl78 via Twitter – in regards to a caller last week on GoLocal Sports talking about former Drake superstar walk on Adam Emmenecker: “I remember that the walk on from Drake's sister lives in Prov. from when Keno was hired so the call was probably from the father.” Craig: Thanks for the update. The conversation came up in reference to PC walk on Ted Bancroft, who has performed magnificently for the Friars in an emergency role so far this season. Emmenecker was a walk-on at Drake during his first three years, and was awarded a scholarship during Keno Davis’ one year as head coach. He led his Bulldogs to a Missouri Valley Conference title and a berth in the NCAA’s. His sister Sara is a Providence resident…

• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to [email protected]. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...

• You’re up early anyway…don’t forget to join us for GoLocal Sports on 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am! Call in (401) 737-1287, or text 37937…and send email to the show - [email protected] .

• Looking for your midweek football fix? Jump into the “Patriots Playbook” on Patriots.com Radio, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2:00-4:00 pm ET. We’re live with commentary, interviews and your calls and questions on the Patriots and the NFL via social media. It’s a great way to break up the day at work! But if you can’t make it for the live webcast, never fear…the podcast will be near…

• Let history be remembered…through the recently released “Rhode Island Radio,” from Arcadia Publishing. The book tells the story of the 90-year history of radio in our state through photographs, clippings and memories from many of the personalities who have graced our airwaves. If you’re in search of that holiday gift that says “Rhode Island,” you can find it in local bookstores, or find it online right here…