These will be the new popcorn

When I think back to my trip to Manhattan from a couple years ago, many stories come to mind; Carzoli peeing on K-State's old football field, sleeping in a strange store, ISU beating KSU in a huge upset, or even walking home from the bars about five miles since our ride decided to crap out at 11:30. But the lasting memory from that trip was my introduction to the words Batter Crispies. Now for as long as I could remember I loved those little crispy bits of leftovers that lay under the fish in a Long John Silver's platter, but I never knew what to call them. Thanks to Scott Johnson for driving through a LJS at 9 oclock at night and only ordering a drink and Batter Crispies. Who would have thought a delicious meal like that could cost only $1.09? They are such a good compliment to their greasy fish and chicken. Who doesn't love just bits of fried batter that look like rice crispies? I really think they ought to open a stand at the fair for batter crispies, but of course they would have to charge for them unlike LJS. How they can afford to give those little pebbles of eatible gold away for free, I'll never know.

One quick note however. If you are hung over do not attempt to eat any of these delicious morsels, or even picture them in your mind or the smell they emit. You will pay for it big time, I can tell you this from first-hand knowledge. Thank you and enjoy your Batter Crispies.

Hung on Hung

In a few short weeks I will be able to fulfill a life long journey when I will be able to grace the same room as one Mr. William Hung. Somebody pinch me!

That's right, the William Hung will be coming to VEISHA in Ames. Not only will VEISHA be making it's triumphant return, but it will be all the more special with the sweet sweet song stylings of one of America's crown jewels. I can't count the number of times I just daydream the day away thinking of Hung's singing. It brings me such inspiration and really makes me believe I can conquer the world. I will have my camera handy to capture this once in a lifetime opportunity on film. The night will be immortalized and cherished forever in a frame over my mantle. This type of picture is one that will most likely become a family heirloom to be passed from generation to generation. Even thought you never won, you will always be the American Idol in my heart, William Hung.

Some People

To continue with my evergoing series on bathroom annoyances, I would like to share a new pet peeve of mine. Last week when I was out at a restaurant I had to make my usual stop to the toilet in order to bulimitize my food. jk on that one, just had to take a quick pee. Inside a tiny bathroom that was already littered with too many dudes in tight quarters, one man in particular took it upon himself to have a personal conversation on his cell phone while doing his best Lucas Frese impression on that pot.

He was arguing with who I assumed was his wife inbetween his gastric discharges. Talk about your heated arguements. There was enough steam coming his stall to make a coffeepot jealous.

Hey buddy, next time you want to bitch out your wife, how about you do it in private and not while I am trying to take care of my own business. Sorry, just another rant in my quest to improve America's manners. I'm sure this is a pic of the other side of that thrilling conversation.

There's always next year

This is mainly just to vent my own frustrations, a cathartic exercise. Also a top 10 list since everybody seems to be doing them now.

Well, tonight marked the end of another college basketball season when the Florida Gators cut down the nets in Indianapolis. It also marked another year where Kansas did NOT win the national championship. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever be able to feel the elation of being the last one standing. Sure Kansas has won it in my lifetime, 1988, but I was far too young to enjoy that and I really had no idea of the magnitude of that event. I am so far removed from tournament joy at this point that I even had trouble imagining my players dancing out there on the court like the Florida guys.

It has been so long and I have suffered a number of heartbreaks. Ranking the top 10 will go as follows:

1) 1997 - Sweet 16 loss to Arizona....this one is the mother of all heartbreaks. We were the top seeded team in the whole tournament and it never even crossed my mind about losing before the Final Four. My favorite Jayhawk of all time at that point, Jacque Vaughn,
was in his senior year and I just thought it would be destiny. So naive I was back then. Arizona was a 4 seed and barely won in the first round, being down 12 points to College of Charleston in the second half. They were also 5th in the Pac 10, but brimming with confidence after the Kansas upset, they won the whole tournament in what was then being called the Jayhawk Invitational. I cried for days after this one.

2) 2003 - Championship loss to Syracuse....to get that close and not finish it off was incredibly painful. I was in the arena in New Orleans to make it even worse. I felt like I was in a dream as Gerry McNamara went off for 6 threes in the first half as the Cuse built a big first half lead. I felt like jumping off the Superdome balcony had a Syracuse fan not already offered to do so to me. Collison and Hinrich's seniors years as well....tough saying goodbye to those guys after watching them in my home state as high school players.

3) 1998 - 2nd Round loss to 8 seeded Rhode Island....2 lottery picks started on this team for Kansas, yet they could not figure out the R.I. guards. Another number one seed squandered. To make matters worse, the whole bracket opened up after this game. KU could have sleepwalked to the final four if they had won this game. They would have played a 13 seed in Valpariaso, then a week 3 seed in Stanford to get to St. Pete. But another Roy Williams face plant took precendence.

4) 2005 - 1st Round loss to Bucknell....how about making some history. First team to ever lose to a Patriot League team in the NCAA Tournament. Also the end of another storied recruiting class....Simien, Miles, Langford, and Lee. This one was downright embarassing. Losing to a 14 seed should never happen. At this point I had experienced a number of disappointments already, so it was starting to seem like commonplace. But this team was preseason number 1, and spent a great deal of the season at number 2 until some late season debacles.

5) 1996 - Elite 8 loss to Syracuse.....we were a far better team, but once again the guards decided to go ice cold from outside. I will also never forget Billy Thomas fumbling a pass out of bounds that would have given him an uncontested layup on a 1 on 0 fast break.

6) 2000 - 2nd Round loss to Duke....this one was not that big of a disappointment as we were the 8 seed to Duke's number one, but we had the lead with less than a minute to go and Nicky Bradford throws the ball to Carlos Boozer who goes in for a dunk to take the lead back. We had the game and no one ever expected it.

7) 2006 - 1st Round loss to Bradley....this one was more embarassing than painful. The team was so young, but definately not supposed to lose to a 13 seed. I really think the bracket set up favorably had we got out of the first round.

8) 1999 - 2nd Round loss to Kentucy....again, not favored to win this one, but we had a 3 pt lead and the ball with less than a minute to go. They got the ball back, missed a shot and got the offesive rebound. Scott Padgett tied the game and we lost in OT. Another almost great upset.

9) 2002 - Final Four loss to Maryland....I really thought this was one of the best KU teams ever. The Jayhawks went 16-0 in the Big 12 and also led the nation in scoring at over 90 ppg. They were such a fun team to watch that I just never wanted the season to end. My confidence grew stedily thoughtout the year into me believing we could actually win the whole thing. Unfortunately they decided not to show up against Maryland and looked like dogs for most of the game. Great season, but not the fairytale ending that I needed.

10) 1996 - Sweet 16 loss to Virginia....another number one seed lost, and this one in Kemper Arena in Kansas City. KU couldn't even take advantage of the home court as they struggled to an abysmal performance behind the 3 point arc.

I am so hoping that all my patience will pay off soon, and all the heartbreak that I have already suffered will only make it that much sweeter when KU does actually win it again. I don't know how I react if it does happen, but rest assured, it will take a vice to get the smile off my face.