Tom Hagen

Who's up for a Zips Nation bet (think Cheers - style poster board) for how tall Mario Collins will be the next time he stops by? I've got 6-2.

Wasn't Pat originally paying his own way the first season (before Diggs' suspension)? If KD had promised him only 3 seasons on scholarship, that may be a loophole.

One of the things this situation will illustrate is the disconnect between unionized (and tenured) educators and the reality endured by most of the rest of society. Specifically, are faculty members going to get their panties in a bunch because they perceive the new President (CEO) of their organization isn't qualified to lead them? Isn't this just a dose of the real world that all of the rest of us are faced with frequently? Don't UA students benefit from having instructors with "real world experience?" Just one of a few benefits I see in pursuing this course of action.

Jeremiah Ezekiel Isaiah Joshua Noah. Seems clear to me.

All of them.

Happened to see this morning that Nikola has been signed to the Spanish pro league after a blistering start in the Czech league. I think it's the top league in Spain. Go Serb.

Try to look at it a different way - which of the following situations would you rather have: (A) Current: LBJ is an acquaintance of the program, runs some camps in the facility, spends some time in the summers playing with the Zips, and periodically is accessible in the off-season to the Zips. It's probably safe to say that every Zips player over the past 5-7 years has run some ball w/ LBJ. This most likely helps with recruiting and raises the level of play of the current players. or (B ) Potential: LBJ is convinced that it's time to back KD and the Zips financially with a big donation to UA in support of improving the basketball facilities. I think the Zips have to pick between these two options, because once (B ) were to happen, I think we might find out that (A) would be an NCAA rules violation. It's not as simple as many here think?

Tasted the offerings at Greenhouse Taverne tonight. Awesome choices .. even if you can't savor the flesh on a Friday. If Sawyer doesn't pull the Beard award this year, he will soon. Might try it again soon. A good thing to try if you're looking for a Saturday spot. On 4th street near Lola and Wunderbar. Go Zips.

Greene is the man. Great MAC player. One of my favorites on other MAC teams, with Demetrick Shaw and Tim Pollitz. Just didn't have enough help or cohesion with teammates tonight to get it done. Hope he tears the CIT a new one and makes a mint in Europe. Go Zips!

The way this year's team is shaping up, I think part of the lineup could look like this:

Abridged version with sound.Regards,T. Hagen, Esq.

Greetings fellow Zips fans. I received a request from The Nation, and was able to locate an associate that ... let's just say .. "owed my employer a service." Below is unedited footage of the Singletary / Linhart incident in today's game. The first replay of the baseline video which shows the infraction most clearly begins at the 2:15 mark of the video.Here's hoping the next 7 days of Zips basketball are brighter and more enjoyable than the last 7 days.Cordially,T. Hagen, Esq.

Greetings and all respect due you Zips fans! Excellent to see so many of you at the JAR last night.My associates have asked me to post the following view of the stadium for those who might not have seen this angle before.Cordially,T. Hagen, Esq.

My associates and I could make an offer ..

I'm German-Irish.

Greetings and all respect to you Zips fans. A friend of ours asked me to pass this along to you. They thought you might be interested in what you find here. Suffice it to say that they have the Zips & Zips fans best interest in mind.Ciao.T. Hagen, Esq.

Greetings again and all respect to you Zips fans,I'm traveling on business for my client, so I apologize for the delay in this second posting. I see several strong ideas in response to my introductory post and we do appreciate the thoughts as do the Zips.Ultimately, we feel the advancement of the program requires an effective and energetic partnership between the Fans, the Team and the Athletic Department Administration. Each of these entities must embrace different roles in moving the Zips upstream. The actions of each need to be different, but complementary. We'll deal with the Administration and Team in subsequent posts. Today we come to you in friendship to ask that you consider carefully the following actions you can take to contribute to the Advancement of Zips Basketball.What can you do, the fans of Zips Basketball? What is your responsibility? We believe there are several tangible items that can have an impact in the success and movement of Zips programs. My client would like to ask you, the Zips fans the following favors:#1: Increase your numbers. Fill seats. The average attendance at the JAR this season was 3593. That translates to an average of 1907 empty seats (and unsold tickets) each night. My client and I challenge the ZipsNation to cut the 1907 in half for 2007-08. Bring the average up by 950 fans per game. Close the gap by half. Average 4550.You may be thinking, "Conzipliere, we can do better than that, why not shoot higher?" Well, the program benefits if Zips fans exceed this challenge, so have at it. Live up to the challenge to fill half the empty seats next season. Then fill the rest the following season. Work on getting 2 extra people each at the games next season. Then get them to help get extras the next after you have them hooked. Make the JAR an unfriendly place for the opposition. And their fans. Make them stay at home since seats aren't available. #2: Be magnanimous. Be good fans. Be professional fans. Take the high road. If it's not appropriate for your 3 year old kid, niece or nephew .. then it's not good enough for the JAR or Zips fans. This includes the Rowdies favorite chant regarding the Zips rival to the East. Come up with something better. Be creative and original. It will get noticed. Don't stoop down to levels unworthy of the Zips. #3: Never forget the injustice done to the Zips on 11 APR 07. And don't let anyone else forget it. Educate them. Learn from Sabres fans. Ever watch a Bills game and see a sign in the stands that says "No Goal" or "Foot in the Crease" ? The Sabres got jobbed, I believe in 1999 .. jobbed at a level we can't comprehend. So their fans mobilized. Nearly everywhere or anytime there was a camera on a Buffalo fan, there was a sign.Last fall, the weekend of the Zips home FB opener, ESPN's College Gameday was in Columbus, with Corso & Co. sitting at an outdoor desk. One of the most visible flags behind the talking heads was a Zips item. It was clear as day and on for an extended time. Our respect goes to the Franklin County Zips fan who represented that day. Almost every stop Gameday makes, there's a guy holding a Washington State flag way up high. WSU of all teams. It's ALWAYS there. And so should the new Roo and signs related to 11 APR 07. They should be seen.Signs at Browns games, Tribe games .. signs everywhere and anywhere you can get them on air. Gameday .. Zips Football .. educate people. And make the signs good signs .. make people go looking for more. Get people to learn about the Zips.They should get to know us soon .. because we're not going anywhere.#4: Be Zips fans first and foremost. Ditch your conference gear. All of it. This means you Hilltopper and Zip Watcher. You've been picking up the freebie conference tournament t-shirt for several years now & what do you have? Some diapers and car rags if you're a Zips fan. The conference doesn't support the Zips .. so why advertise and promote the conference. We'll delve more into this issue in our requests of the Administration. Advertise the Zips above all else.#5: Be welcoming of all Zips fans, new and established, young and old. A goal of all of us here should be to build lasting support for the Zips. An increase of fan traffic in good times is nice, but the real impact will come with the growth of the numbers of true Zips fans. Growth in the numbers of folks like you who go to the JAR when things aren't so great. A component of enabling this growth is to be welcoming. Make them feel at home among Zips fans.We are aware that the following request will be controversial and difficult for some members of the Nation. Regardless, it needs to be made:Be welcoming with a blind eye to what the new fans wear. Concern yourselves first with #1 above. Get the fans there and the TEAM will get them coming back. The right way to make a Zips fan is get them exposed to the great team & product. A good way to drive them away is to berate or call them out on what sweatshirt they have on, no matter WHAT it is. A new exposee to Zips hoops isn't going to be in a Zips jersey yet. Get them hooked & coming back .. and they'll get Zips gear in their time. DON'T work to provide a negative impression of existing Zips fans that isn't accurate.Let's thank new fans for joining us and ask them back next time. Regardless of what gear they have on. If they're supporting the Zips .. they're supporting the Zips. The apparel problem will fix itself.It appears that my requests have gotten long winded, and I ask you excuse my length in these matters. Again, my client hopes you will give serious consideration to investing in your role as a Zips fan, a Zips supporter, and an ambassador for the creation of more of your kind. My client will not forget this friendship paid to the Zips. Nor will the Zips. They all know how to repay a favor.Ciao and Go Zips!T. Hagen, Esq.

Greetings and all respect to you Zips fans,It's now been about 6 weeks since the end of the season, and my client has asked that I speak with you all regarding next season and beyond. I have a special practice, handling only one client. You don't need to know much more than that my client is a dedicated Zips fan and has the best interests of the Zips Nation at heart.We're all affected by the abruptness of the season's end. We're all very proud of the team and coaches, and what they've accomplished. And we all look forward with anticipation to the upcoming season of Zips hoops.But where do the Zips go from here? 26 wins and virtually unbeatable at home? What's next for the team, the fans and the administration? What steps need to be taken?My client and I firmly believe that U of A Athletics is turning the corner, and soon. Coach Dambrot and Director Rhoades use the phrases "sleeping giant" and "scratching the surface" .. and we agree. However, it will take a whole community effort to round that corner and pick up speed .. and in doing so fully wake the so-called "sleeping giant."In the next few weeks, my client would like to ask of each group some small favors and consideration that he feels will contribute to the goals and success of the community. We ask only that you consider them carefully and choose those which you can fulfill. He comes to you as a friend in need.Ask around the neighborhood. You'll find that my client does not forget a favor. He knows how to repay your friendship.Until next time,Go Zips & Ciao!- T. Hagen, Esq.