A FEW MO' THINGS, 12/6/12
We interrupt another day of #ButchWatch to bring you J.R. Smith....
Go to the :26 mark of the video. Check out the couple sitting courtside on the left side of the video. I've seen couples bail on bar tabs in more time than it took for those two to say "we're getting the f--- out of here."
The Knicks are 13-4. As I type this, Butch Jones is probably standing in front of his pantry, patiently deciding which cereal to enjoy. He's still UC's football coach.
-While #ButchWatch went back and forth last night, I watched hoops. The Knicks and the Dayton Flyers, not against each other, because that would be a mismatch. Just like UD vs. the SEC. After beating Alabama last night, or should I say after Kevin Dillard beat Alabama last night, the Flyers have won six straight against SEC schools. And you know SEC Guy wants nothing to do with our football program.
The UD Flyers are 6-2. As I type this, Butch Jones is agonizing over whether he should put two packets of sweetener in his coffee or one.
-Ryan Ludwick and the Reds are apparently close to a deal. Ryan is going to benefit from a free agent market that has seen roughly 25 players sign for a combined $360,000,000. Presidential campaigns sit in awe of the way baseball teams are spending money. MLB contracts, always absurd, are reaching a new low, or high.
Jeff Keppinger, a nice player, but mostly a utility guy nonetheless, signed yesterday for $12 million. The night before Thanksgiving, Jonny Gomes signed a two-year/$10 million deal with the Red Sox. Jonny Gomes. The same guy Ryan Ludwick replaced here. Ten. Million. Dollars.
It's a good offseason to be Ryan Ludwick.
The Reds will overpay because they have to. Still needing a leadoff hitter, and still needing bench upgrades, what could plan B be if they decide to not spend the jack on Ludwick?
But if they do overpay Ryan Ludwick, what's left to spend?
It's a good winter to be a free agent. Not so sure it's a good winter to be the GM of a team with limited financial resources and with a reluctance to trade good, young, pitchers entering their primes.
As I type this, Butch Jones is in his car, deciding between listening Mike and Mike, Jim Scott, or a success manual on CD.
-The Bengals recent winning streak and the recent emergence of Mohamed Sanu was not coincidental. Neither were their winning ways and the new usefulness of Cedric Peerman. Neither is available right now. Sanu won't be until 2013. Neither might seem like major factors compared to weapons like AJ and BJGE, but you can't convince me that these two personnel losses combined won't be impactful.
As I type this, Butch Jones is at a four-way stop, trying to decide which driver has the right of way.
-I've had ex-girlfriends who were more decisive than Butch Jones.
I don't blame anyone who's on the verge of an important, life-altering decision taking their time. And Butch is right, what he decides to do affects dozens of families. I think the fact that he's genuinely torn (and I think he is) speaks to the kind of high-character guy he is.
And it also tells me that he and his people were paying close attention to what's been happening at both Tennessee and Louisville.
At the same time, the football futures of two schools hang in the balance. Whichever school Butch doesn't work for next year will be looking for a new coach, and there's a great chance that he'll come from another school. The reverberations of every coach's decision are felt at many institutions.
I guess you could look at this one of two ways. The fact that Butch has been acting on behalf of the University of Cincinnati in an official capacity the last two days could suggest that he's staying. At the same time, he's had to chances to public announce that he's staying and he's refused.
Meanwhile, I wouldn't be happy if I'm running the show at Colorado. We've made our offer, we're waiting for Butch, and he's appearing at press conferences, flying to Charlotte, visiting the Panthers, and dining at Cracker Barrel. (Mmmmm, Cracker Barrel.)
What I think should have happened is that UC should've told the coach to take his time making his decision, weigh every factor and every pro and con (there are many of each) to staying and leaving, but go away while you do.
I know, I know, they need a spokesperson for the football program at official Belk Bowl news conferences. Send someone else. Is it ideal? No. Is it totally logical? Of course not. But it makes more sense than creating awkward situations for the coach as he dodges questions he can't answer, the school who's trying to protect their best interests, and media members trying to do their jobs.
Oh, and it'd really give Butch time to mull this over.
Go away and come back when you're ready, or go away and lets us know that you're leaving. But this charade is part intelligence-insulting, part-uncomfortable, and fully-annoying for a number of interested parties.
As type this, Butch is set to fill his gas tank and really having a tough time choosing between the 87, the 89, and the 93 octane gas.
-This is how you encourage fans to donate coats. Well done, Kevin Love.
Speaking of coats, earlier this morning, Butch Jones spent a solid 45-minutes looking at his coat rack trying to decide if this was a winter coat, light jacket, or sweater kind of day.
-Mike Brown and Jerry Jones are buddies. I'd rather have Mike Brown than Jerry Jones. Give me the guy who does things then doesn't drive me nut with asinine explanations.
-If this was made in 1986, with WWF wrestlers from 1986, my nine year-old head would have exploded.
While you watched that, Butch Jones took 18 minutes in the Varsity Village parking lot at UC to determine whether he'd just pull his car in, or back it into a spot like 17 year-olds do.
-There was a fight in the West Virginia/Marshall game. It was not as big as the fracas that marred last year's UC/XU game, but I hope that each time these teams play the remainder of the season, viewers get to see it again.
-I'll have more later, including today's radio show on ESPN1530. Right now Butch Jones is deciding between Cincinnati and Colorado. If he hasn't made up his mind by 3:04 today, God help me. Here's Jay-Z and an old lady.
