Dr Z

Clubber Lang predicts...just replace the word "fight" with "Zips"

Good idea, but the wiki article mentions KD and doesn't have any photos of beat down houses in Akron. I think I like it better.Most interesting fact I learned from the wiki article:Avant-garde guitarist Buckethead honored James's twenty-fourth birthday with two new songs on his website called "LeBron" and "LeBron's Hammer" both later released on the 2009 album Slaughterhouse on the Prairie.[71] One of his earlier songs, "King James" from Crime Slunk Scene (2006), is also dedicated to James.

I would say Torrence too if he were going to play. Anybody on the defensive line right now is a point of interest to me.Seeing what defensive scheme they are going to run interests me the most. I would vote CJ if he were on your list.

You never know how a piece gets edited, so unless I get to ask LBJ directly I'll probably never know. I was hoping something positive for Akron instead of the run down neighborhood shots. I also wished Kroft would have asked him about his movie. I did like the Gloria interview. She is gold. I hoped for more. I also would have liked it if they interviewed him at his house instead of a gym. I think it was pretty lame of Kroft not to ask him the big question...free agency. I don't know how you sit LBJ down and NOT ask him that question?!? Maybe LBJ told him he couldn't ask that question. 12 minutes, come on, give me more!?!? Nice piece, but a missed opportunity IMO. C-

I missed the article yesterday. First off, thanks for writing this article Tom, it's the biggest question on my mind as a Zips football fan. I'm going to hold my comments until I watch the practice Saturday. I just can't waste any more typing on the 3-3-5 right now. Bain being hurt is a HUGE disappointment for me. I REALLY wanted to see him play Saturday, and I'm guessing that isn't going to happen. He is going to make ANY defense better no matter what the scheme is.While this is no secret, it's nice to see in print. ''As much as anything, we have to get to the quarterback better,'' Brookhart said. Can't wait to see that happen during an actual game. I just can't take watching last years defense again, shinny new stadium or not.

I have never seen much from Swiech that would indicate that he deserves more playing time. I have been hard on Bardo in many of my posts. But like a few others, I did see a hint of improvement at the end of the season. This leads me to believe that the college game is starting to slow down for him, or he is working on his game, or both. I have hope for him. I can't defend Conyers in any way. He is a senior is my only answer to his pt. People that know more about basketball than me tell me that he is in for his defense, then I watch athletic players burn him left and right, I don't get it, sorry.Zeke will get pt due to his defense, KD loves to see hustle and D and I think Zeke will bring that right out of the gate. His offense will progress as the year does.No mistake, the future is bright in Zips bball-land.

Anybody feel like Keith Dambrot got dissed in this piece?If you missed it, you can watch the 12 minute segment on line here.You can read the transcript here

On the same topic (sort of), has anybody seen Moondog shoot underhand behind the head half court shots. Dude is sick! I bet he makes 25% Pretty impressive for being in that costume.

We are back again, older and wiser. See you this summer.

From Rasor:I played the role of lazy reporter. You asked the questions. J.D. Brookhart answered them.I disagree Mike. I wouldn't use the term "lazy" at all. I would use the term "smart" or "efficient"You asked the questions Zip fans wanted to hear the answers to. I thank you. Most of the time, I would much rather read a Q&A just like what you did than read a bs article about how the Zips are doing this spring.As a reader, I feel like I get more bang for my buck. At the end of every article I read, I ask my self what I learned from that article, if I didn't learn anything, IMO the article was worthless. Nice job! I still won't believe the 3-4 until I see it. I even talked to a player telling me they run it everyday in practice and I still don't believe it. How does it benefit JD or the team by saying "We are still going to be use a base 3-3, but we will be more multiple" if they are really abandoning the stack? Are they trying to surprise PSU!?!? Morgan State!?!?

CBS News link with Dru in itThis is from the same piece.Has anybody been to a Cavs game lately. I went to the Knicks game last Sunday.While they are warming up before the game. They bring a special rack of balls to the mid court sideline.All the "other" Cavs move out of the way as LBJ underhand shoots a rack of balls trying to entertain the crowd.Fun, but seemed a little weird to me. I guess when your the King, you do what you want.

4 Friday games in a row

News Collector at 5 pm

I think that is a pretty good observation. The one thing that I would add is that sometimes a "good" coach gets a great player and that is what helps him win the big one. Cowher never won the big one w/o Ben. Will Zeke be KD's Ben? I hope so.Again, congrats to KD and the boys for a great ride this year. STILL wish we could have rushed the floor at the Q.

I guess they are ahead of schedule on the stadium then. At least its a Saturday game.I like what happens when your cursor hits the bear on their web page.If we continue with the 3-3-5, I put the over/under at 50 yards rushing for CJ7.

Bluto wants Hixon in a pumpkin helmetAccording to Ralph, Hixon was not in the talks

I sure do, I was there. Excellent example. First off, Pitt didn't cover (the spread) against our young Zips. Which I consider not "getting your brains beat in." Secondly, I specifically remember being very impressed with the way Cvetinovic played in that game. He held his own for the 15 minutes he was on the floor. I think that game was INVALUABLE experience that served him well throughout the season and into the MAC tourney and the NCAA tourney. From that game on I posted that Nic's playing time should be increased throughout the season.

Why? I sure would like our returning players to be as experienced as possible at playing quality teams. What's the advantage of Akron playing a weaker opponent early in the year. Confidence?It wouldn't have changed anything even if they got their brains beat in (which I don't think they would have).We made it to the dance the longest way possible anyway. I hate playing cupcakes. B-O-R-I-N-G.Doesn't make me want to get in my car and drive down to the JAR.

Never looked like an NFL QB to me. Now Dan LeFevour on the other hand looks like an NFL QB to me.

The New York Giants have inquired about trading for Browns receiver Braylon Edwards, Ken Palmer of The Giant Insider reported.The report debunks rumors that the Browns had talked about trading Edwards for Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. Instead, the Giants reportedly offered Cleveland the two draft picks they received from the Saints last year in exchange for tight end Jeremy Shockey: a second and fifth.The Browns asked for receiver Steve Smith instead and were told no. The Giants then offered either of two other receivers, Domenik Hixon of the University of Akron and Mario Manningham, a native of Warren, Ohio. The Browns declined both.Talks ended after that, but could heat up around draft time, the report speculated.The Giants might need a marquee receiver if Plaxico Burress goes to jail, and coach Tom Coughlin told the Newark Star-Ledger at the NFL Combine last month, "it'd be great to have a player, if it's not Plaxico, but with Plaxico's magnitude, on our football team."Edwards had one of his best games of the season last year against the Giants, catching five passes for 154 yards and a touchdown. But he led the NFL with at least 16 drops last season -- some Browns insiders estimated it was more like 22 -- and finished with 55 catches for 873 yards and three touchdowns.Edwards' contract is also up after this season and the Browns might not want to pay him the $8 million-to-$10 million a year he'll undoubtedly be seeking.Edwards has also been vocal about not being liked here because he's from Michigan, and might want a change of scenery. You can bet the bright lights and big city would be attractive to him.Hixon, who burned the Browns for three TDs in preseason last year, finished last season with 43 catches for 596 yards and two TDs despite starting just seven games. Manningham, whom the Giants coaches feel has tremendous potential, didn't play much his first season.Smith, the Giants' second-round pick in 2007 out of USC, started only four games, but caught a team-high 57 passes for 574 yards and one TD.The talks, if true, show that no one on the Browns' roster is untouchable.source

I would like to see him come off the bench like he did in the championship game. 1, it limits his minutes due to injury. 2, he seem to provide a GREAT spark coming off the bench. Super D. It was like he wanted every minute to count when he was in there. Seem to really focus him. I REALLY hope his ankle will not give him problems during the game.

Tournament Diary: Akron's Darryl Robertsby Plain Dealer staffThursday March 19, 2009, 2:54 AMAkron guard Darryl Roberts, a junior from Toledo, is writing a diary for The Plain Dealer during the Zips' NCAA Tournament trip to Portland, Ore.:One thing we have made a conscious effort to do is to get some sleep with the three-hour time difference. Last night I was in bed at 9:30 p.m., which is 12:30 a.m. our time [in Akron]. We were going over to Nike today, but we decided to sleep in. We'll go Friday if we win. We just want to be prepared for the game.We've watched some film on Gonzaga already. One thing we can't let them do is speed us up. And like always, we'll have to rebound.I took the time today to pray and reflect on everything. This is truly something I've dreamed about doing. Now I'm living it. It is definitely surreal. I guess it will all look different a few weeks from now. But right now it is surreal to be in the middle of it.Another thing: To my surprise, the people in Portland have been really supportive for us. I guess the team here has a rivalry with Gonzaga. I was expecting the opposite, so some people here will be cheering for us.-- Darryl Roberts sourceBonus link (I'll hide it here) Andy Staples thinks we'll get smoked!?!

I might have to bet the money line. If the Zips win, you'll never forget a bet like this!For those you that don't understand the money line. If you bet $10 on the Zips to win OUTRIGHT (no points) and they win, you get $75. If you bet $100, you get $750.

With the invention of satellite radio, nobody should have to listen to that dribble anymore.

Akron's freshman point guard Humpty Hitchens is still nursing a sprained ankle. And while he showed no ill effects in his 10-point 10-minute first-half effort in Akron's Mid-American Conference Championship game, he said the ankle is still tender."Before the game I wasn't 100 percent, but I told coach (Keith) Dambrot I wanted to play,'' Hitchens said Sunday. "I felt good in warm-ups. I felt good when the game started. When he called my number I was so excited, I came with a lot of energy."But the more I played on it the more I could feel it throbbing. I kept playing on it saying, 'I'm not hurt.' ''Hitchens, who went through limited practice Monday, said he looks to be at full strength by the time No. 13 Akron plays No. 4 Gonzaga in Portland Thursday night."I'll be ready,'' he said. "I gotta play. I'm ready.'' source