Big Zip

That's funny because I thought you really did have an option. Isn't the whole idea about negotiations that you can get up turn around and walk away. You might want to take a look at Snapper Lawn Mowers -- Wal-Mart asked them to be their sole provider of lawn mowers and they realized all the things you point out and they said no. In fact they decided to not do business with Wal-Mart at all. Oh if Vlasic pickle would have told them to go jump -- things might have been different for them too. My best guess is Levis is going the wrong way down a one way street with their brand too after signing up with Wal-Mart. By the way Steve and Barry's has to be worse than Wal-Mart all gear is $7.98 or less. Even Wal-Mart gets more for their clothes.All in all -- I'm a consumer and they got cheap stuff.

I think it was Ann Coulter who said conservative talk radio has a built in audience "People on there way to and from work." Guess she was right (no pun intended) liberal radio dies in greater cleveland again and I couldn't be happier -- I refused to program 1350 in either of my cars. I dialed it in everytime.

What if you hate wal-mart? Sucks to be you. Most hatred of Wal-Mart is quite ill founded unless of course your a union loving corporation killer from the UAW. Is that you Rowdy? How are those american cars built in Mexico and Canada treating you. The world is flat!

From Rasors blog March 2006:The 2006 recruiting class looks promising, as well. Three high school players, point guard Darryl Roberts, power forward Chris McKnight and center Mike Bardo, have signed to play for the Zips.Roberts is a quick point guard from St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo.“He had a really good year,” Dambrot said. “He can shoot the ball, handle the ball. He’s athletic and quick.”Roberts’ offensive skills have made him one of Northwest Ohio’s best players for the past two years.“He’s one of those kids that makes other kids look good,” St. Francis deSales athletic director Carl Janke said. “He’s not selfish.”

Wal-Mart loves the local angle -- they have lots of Nordonia High School stuff by my house -- flip flops, blankets etc. etc.

That's where I park and tailgage for every Browns home game and where I'll be for this game. Looking forward to having you all.

Butler won the preseason NIT. You are incorrect -- Damon help me understand why you are here. The moniker of the page states that this is the unofficial web home for Akron Zips fans. YOu are obviosly not - you are however a winer to say the least. Please just go away.

Can someone please block Damon -- he came to this board flaming the University, its fans and athletes like nobody on this board does. After the thread about his song died I thought he'd go away, but he's still here. I've got no clue why someone with such hatred and venom for the University is still posting here.

I think I"m starting to dislike the OSU apologists on this board more than the Sweater wearers sitting in front of me at the MAC Championship game. Screw OSU -- if they lost all their games I couldn't be happier.I've mentioned this before and been blasted for it too -- if you actually think basketball officiating isn't a freaking mess than you ain't watch the games closely. Watch the MAC Championship game again -- I received many calls from around the country after the game from friends feeling my pain and almost all of them wanted to talk about the absolute mugging that Wood received all night long with no fouls called. But the best proof I can offer to you if you watch enough basketball you will eventually here this being said at the end of a game, "You're not going to get that call at the end of a game" Now I have to admit I've never seen the basketball rules book, but I'm guessing it doesn't say the rules change at the end of the game and its a free for all. The fact that it is a accepted fact is a travesty. If it was a fould in the beginning of the game why not the end. If basketball insists on officiating games at the wim of the referees I suggest they add judges (like figure skating) and award points for every shot based on perceived difficulty.

Wow this is a strange string of messges. I have listened to people on this board talk abou these amazing recruiting classes we've been getting here at Akron. Here we are in season four of the Brookhart era and season three for recruiting and everyone here is talking about 5 or 6 wins. If these recruiting classes were so stellar shouldn't we be poised to win the conference this year. I get that we have a new QB, but doesn't defense win games? Also, those of you bitching about traveling to Cleveland and not calling it a home game are so funny. I would rather watch all games at the Cleveland Browns stadium instead of picking fiberglass out of my ass at the Rubber Bowl. The place is a dump and you know it. I once heard Dr. Proenza something that seems in order here -- he was talking to a group about looking at NE Ohio as a region instead of Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown and he said, "Last time I checked it was the same distance from Akron to Cleveland as it was from Cleveland to Akron." He was of course talking about people not forgetting about Akron as he was speaking in Cleveland at the Cleveland City Club (I think). I'm now telling you the same thing from those of us theat make the arduous and lengthy trek down from up north. By the way you can priceline a hotel at the Hyatt on Superior for like $35 -- spent the night show the lady in your life a nice night out on the town after the game -- get away like you were kids again. Quit bitching!

I"m a lot more for the best 64 teams in the country being in the tournament instead of splitting them out or the current format. I'm also in favor of lessening the human factor by going to a system like the BCS. As much as people don't like the BCS -- what they really don't like is no tournament. A tournament makes things better.As for those who don't think a mid major can make it and shouldn't be there - George Mason's drive to the final four last year proves that wrong. It was really cool to see a school like that make the run.One thing that bothered me this year about the tournament was the inconsistency. Obviously, the slighting of Akron was number -- especially if Laing was telling the truth when he said they were penciled in as a 10 if they would have won -- that means they went from a 10 to out of the tournament because of a freak bank shot. I heard the leader of the NCAA selection committee say OSU was the not given the number 1 seed because they lost to UNC and Florida during the season. At which point the host asked aren't they a different team now and the leader said we used the head to head. Later in the interview he justified other teams making the tournament (Arkansas) because of how they played down the stretch. Well what is it how they played during the season or down the stretch.

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I think one of the more interesting things Bob Taft did during his administration was suggest Ohio State should be playing schools within Ohio to help other athletic programs financially in the state. If you are going to pay $350,000 or whatever to play you then give the money to another in state school. For all my bashing of OSU they have done that -- I don't necessarily expect them to play at Akron, but at game at Browns Stadium would be great. Regardless of where they play though it'll be a OSU home game because that's the way Ohio is.

Why would you e-mail Gary Waters - he coaches Cleveland State?

I was sitting in the suite behind the Miami section for that game -- no way I'm rooting for them. I work with some too and have not found them to be sympathetic. They are second on my list of hated teams in the MAC behind Can't -- I could never root for them. People on this board are always saying how they hate the Buckeyes now we're talking about rooting for the Redhawks.By the way -- we always talk about UA versus AU too -- the mods might want to know the disclaimer at the bottom of the page it is The University of Akron not the University of Akron.

I love the idea of schedule four big name schools in 3 for 1 games. Each year yet get big name schools on the schedule and if balanced right you get a top notch home game each year too. I'd also challenge the MAC office to schedule one or two conference challenges each year. MAC versus MVC or MAC versus WAC. Make a big deal about it. If you scheduled two you could automatically have one home game and one away game against "comparable" schools. Use the media preseason rankings and match the teams up against their counterparts. If you take the time with a creative MAC office you can guarantee your conference schedules some really good basketball.Fill the rest of your schedule with Cleveland State, Youngstown State, Wright State, Duquesne, Detroit, Western Kentucky, Niagra, Marshall, Dayton, Xavier, Butler etc. If you want to be the Gonzaga of the MAC you have to work at it. Gonzaga doesn't schedule Tiffin!!!

Steven -- Thanks for stopping by -- I have to admit your post made me feel a little bit better today (two days after the NIT snub and three days after the shot/time keeping fiasco). My family is from your neck of the woods and my dad was excited to see you were attending Akron. My father graduated from Beth Center and my mom from Jefferson Morgan. Looking forward to seeing you play next year and manning the middle to the Zips!

Rick is a good guy -- I know that is what you would certainly like to believe and you and Rasor may truly believe it, but I'm not buying it. I would love to personally see the guy fired or severly reprimanded. Did you actually read the e-mail. Not only was he flipant and rude he basically pointed out that the issue at the MAC game wasn't it big deal -- get over it. You don't think this guy has an impact on the perception of our conference? Do you think this guy should really be a position where he may affect each school in the conference -- no way. Hitting send on an e-mail too quickly is one thing when you are replying to your friend and saying something you regret later in the work place, but I would guess there isn't a person on this board that would have responded to a customer in the fashion he did. I haven't written numerous letters to politicians in my days voicing my displeasure with decisions they have made and the only responses I have received have been cordial with an attempt to explain their position. Nothing like that. Then again he could say nothing the Mack has with too many of the people on this board.

I agree -- they'd then get to say they were 2-10 against top 20 teams this year. This team has sure got guts -- they went on the road for a month and half and weren't afraid to take on anyone. They knocked of "fill in the blank" and "fill in the blank" they deserve to get in.

The MAC is pointless for basketball -- why not ask for the same deal Temple got where we only need to be a member for basketball.

I don't think it has been mentioned yet, but a week ago the national pundits were talking about Stan Heath being fired after the season was over - a week later and Heath and Hipsher are dancing with a 12 seed. Talking about adding insult to injury! Ouch!

Top it off this team needs a call in show after the game. How many people like me wanted to call in last night just to talk to someone that wasn't my wife. She was fine to talk to, but I felt the need to be heard by more people. Shouldn't the popularity of this site dictate a call in show after the game? Not to mention actual calls during the call in show? How about a football call in show during football (football only) and a basketball call in show during basketball season (basketball only).

Rasor just typed that from what he has hear Akron did not turn down the bid on his blog!

Did you see who the selection committee was for the NIT -- retired basketball coaches. A bunch of guys like Dean Smith and Gene Keady -- I think Keady had our region. Can someone find and e-mail address for him? Did they ask a retired MAC Coach -- of course not.

I know KD said it last night that this is a one bid conference, but I also know he didn't mean the NIT. If this is what happens when you schedule like we did -- I've said it before and I'll say it again schedule the toughest schedule in the country and lose all your games what the fuck does it matter if the MAC Tournament and regular season champions are the only ones going dancing. A schedule like ours is completely and utterly pointless. I know KD said last night that the big boys wouldn't play us, but my guess is they wouldn't play us 2 for 1 or home and home -- at their place they'll place -- just schedule the fucking games. NO MORE TIFFINS and MOUNT UNIONS and CAPITALS.