Messages

26

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Extend Jerome Tang

« on: January 23, 2023, 01:36:55 PM »

Reminds me of Roy Williams. I well remember the 1989-90 KU season, when the Hawks were unranked to start the year and had a longtime assistant coach new to their program (Roy was in his second season). The Hawks didn't have much talent that year but took off, jumped into the top 5, and it was obvious to me (and everyone) that Roy was the real deal. The game when they put 150 on Kentucky that season feels similar to the 116 we put on Texas.

That KU team got to #1 in the country but didn't win the conference (the Big 8 was loaded that year) and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Played out of their minds and over their ability all year, but didn't have the horses yet to finish. All seems very familiar. And exciting for the future.

Honestly, it also feels similar to OU football in 2000 under longtime assistant Bobby Stoops, when he turned OU into a buzzsaw in his second season. In complete honesty, this is the third time I've had this feeling about a coach, and it's Tang. Even more impressive that he's in his first season unlike Roy and Stoops.

27

Kansas State Football / Re: Bills obsession with Manhattan High

« on: November 10, 2015, 05:46:27 PM »

This is a lot of MHSers to be playing at once. Seems like Snyder has had an average of about one a year. I came up with 11 starters, but I bet I missed a couple:

OL: Terrale Johnson
FB: Winston Dimel
WR: Deante Burton
TE: Brian Lojka

DL: Kelly Greene
LB: Matt Wallerstedt
LB: Laird Veatch
LB: Jason Kazar
LB: Matt Butler
CB: Thomas Randolph (All-American)
S: Steve Hanks

28

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Nigel Gone

« on: March 30, 2015, 11:29:02 AM »

You know what Chingon, I did have more to say about firing Prince. I had stronger opinons about KSU sports and sports in general years ago. I wanted Altman fired so badly, I called DB92 to dedicate songs to him after losses. I've mellowed. I care more about other things in life. So maybe there is a difference.

29

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Nigel Gone

« on: March 30, 2015, 11:22:25 AM »

I would just prefer being shot in the head if I'm going to be slowly burned to death

I don't equate being a basketball fan with anything close to life/death.

Yes to this.

30

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Nigel Gone

« on: March 30, 2015, 11:21:53 AM »

It's amazing how much more patience GOSP has for oscar than he had for Prince. Like shocking really, he was gunning to Prince to be fired essentially as soon as he was hired.  But he still needs more time to figure out ole oscar-y boy. 

And its doubly ironic that he pulls this "I don't hate the program enought..." BS when he was rooting for the football team to lose because he wanted Prince out.

Oh my. I hated the Prince hire, yes. My argument was he was horribly unqualified. (Less qualified than Snyder when we hired him, even though our program was in a much better place, was how I put it.) I've argued in lots of posts that I prefer hiring coaches who have experience. I made the same argument against hiring Venables until he proved himself at Clemson in my eyes. I thought the whole Doug Gottlieb thing was a joke for the same reason.

But sure, stir the pot and label me a racist, bad person. (Sorry filter is on at work.)

So it was OK for you to have the opinion that Prince was a terrible hire and to not give him a chance because a) you didn't like the hire and b) didn't like his personality, but people who thought Weber was a terrible hire and didn't give him the full chance you think he should have received (and still should be getting) "hate oscar so much they want the program to fail"?

I doubt race has much part to play in your stance on this, but it all has to do with the fact that you liked oscar, liked what he stood for, liked the type of basketball you think he idealizes while you didn't like Prince, what he stood for, the style of football he played.   You didn't wait for Prince to fail two years in a row.

Well thanks for walking back your position a bit to the point where you're accusing me of being only somewhat racist, and calling it a stylistic difference. You're still overstating the matter though, and still an bad person for doing so. You don't know me.

What Prince stood for? I had no opinion on what Prince "stood for." Winning and losing coaches come in all types. rough ridin' hell man, I don't even know what to write to you. Once you level an accusation like that online there's no way to respond appropriately. That I had friends of many different races and religions growing up and didn't even realize it? Including my best friend as a kid? True, but "that's what a racist would say!" That I've lived comfortably in neighborhoods in Brooklyn where whites were about a 2% minority? True, but "that's how a racist would defend himself." That I've been employed as a community advocate for underpriviliged communities of color? Yes, but "he hated Prince, ipso facto RACIST!"

Okay fine, FIRE WEBER NOW! BURN IT DOWN! Am I edgy now? Am I not a racist anymore?

My arguments for oscar had nothing to do with style. I didn't know jack crap about his style when he was hired, I just knew his win-loss numbers, so I relied on those. Whatever, man. Whatever.

31

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Nigel Gone

« on: March 30, 2015, 10:36:24 AM »

P.S. oscar has had more success at KSU than Prince did.

32

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Nigel Gone

« on: March 30, 2015, 10:33:57 AM »

It's amazing how much more patience GOSP has for oscar than he had for Prince. Like shocking really, he was gunning to Prince to be fired essentially as soon as he was hired.  But he still needs more time to figure out ole oscar-y boy. 

And its doubly ironic that he pulls this "I don't hate the program enought..." BS when he was rooting for the football team to lose because he wanted Prince out.

Oh my. I hated the Prince hire, yes. My argument was he was horribly unqualified. (Less qualified than Snyder when we hired him, even though our program was in a much better place, was how I put it.) I've argued in lots of posts that I prefer hiring coaches who have experience. I made the same argument against hiring Venables until he proved himself at Clemson in my eyes. I thought the whole Doug Gottlieb thing was a joke for the same reason.

But sure, stir the pot and label me a racist, bad person. (Sorry filter is on at work.)

33

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Nigel Gone

« on: March 30, 2015, 10:25:39 AM »

Personally, I have never liked any coach or player more than the school.  Any player who transfers out is dead to me.  Any coach who leaves is dead to me.  Any current player at KSU I hope does well.  Any current coach at KSU I hope does very well, but if he/she fails in two successive seasons, I generally think it's time to move on.

I admitted last week I can't bring the damn zeal much, so I guess this me being a non-zealot.

34

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Nigel Gone

« on: March 30, 2015, 10:01:31 AM »

If oscar coaches 4 years has a Big 12 championship and makes the NCAA twice. I think you can shrug your shoulders and be fine with it.

sure if it was like this:

Year before oscar: 15-17, No post Season
Hire oscar
Year 1: 18-15, 1 win in Big XII tourney, NIT
Year 2: 16-16, 1 win in Big XII tourney, no postseason
Year 3: 24-10, 2 wins in Big XII tourney, NCAA 1st round loss
Years 4: 29-7, Big XII Title, 3 seed, sweet 16 etc.

But it ain't like that is it

If he is gone next year, I don't think he could of had a shorter tenure and got more out of it. I don't think anybody wants him here anymore. Might as well get the most out of it in the shortest amount time possible.

Totally agree with Mixed-Nuts here. I would actually be way more upset about losing CF3's hypothetical coach after four years (more like insanely pissed about losing him). oscar's two tourney bids (no wins), and our first conference title since 1980 isn't an awful stretch for the program if he flames out and is gone after next year.

Here's what I hope. I hope Nigel and Edwards are still on the team. I hope Dean is the next coming. I hope we go 25-10 (10-8) next year and win our first NCAA tourney game under oscar. I don't hate oscar enough to wish that our program (the program I love) falls apart just to spite him. If we suck next year and oscar is gone, then I'm fine with that too. It's only if we suck next year and oscar stays that I'll be upset.

35

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Embarrassing K-State basketball moments we have lived through

« on: March 25, 2015, 03:54:11 PM »

must've been '83 or '84... coming off the second-last good stretch of tradition... blackman, adams, nealy graduated and we made the mistake of leaving the cupboard bare... recruited roder, mitchell and jackson from st louis and a couple more clowns from illinois/wisconsin... now, this was not the fab five... more like the flub five... and they were horrid (though ben mitchell did stay on and have a fairly decent wildcat career... to the moment... one of the many disorganized, rudderless offensive trips down... defensive pressure and our guys were alternatively standing around or running away from the ball like fools... this must've taken a dozen years off jack hartman's life, because he would scream and yell to beat the band in frustration... one of these times... under a trap at half court... he yells... and in the cloud of desperation and idiocy... jim roder wheels around and passes him the ball... directly to his chest from about twenty feet... thought coaches head was going to explode 

This is a good story. 

36

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: March 25, 2015, 01:33:37 PM »

It's so much more foreign than Europe. I often marvelled while there at how humanity has come up with such different ways to operate their societies. There are obvious little things like nobody there eats or drinks while they walk around -- Starbucks serves your coffee is a ceramic cup to stay, unless you specifically ask for it to go. But the underlying mindset that leads to such an orderly society is what's really interesting. For example, when ISIS killed 2 Japanese men, the response wasn't sympathy, instead their families were shamed for producing troublemakers who would get themselves into that situation.

And then there's the more basic foreigness of operating where many people don't even read our alphabet, let alone speak our language. (Wiley, you should print out the name of your hotel in Japanese characters before you go, to show to a cab driver if needed.)

37

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: March 25, 2015, 10:43:51 AM »

Anyone have a little input on the most cost efficient rail in Tokyo?  I'm flying into Narita and staying in Shibuya.  Will probably spend limited time in the hotel and do as much possible in the city.  I'm just trying to decide what pass to purchase, one that hopefully includes a ride back to the airport.

Are you staying in Tokyo the whole trip? I bought a Japan Rail (JR) Pass before I went because I was going to other cities, and it included my train between Narita and Tokyo (N'EX train). The pass also includes the JR line within Tokyo, but it's probably not worth buying for you -- price-wise -- if you're staying in Tokyo the entire trip.

When returning to Narita, I actually took the bus (Airport Limousine) from my hotel (Shinjuku Hilton) directly back to Narita because my JR Pass had expired by then. The bus made sense for me price-wise and travel-wise since I would've had to first trek my way over to the Tokyo Central train station just to get on the train to Narita. You'll have the same issue in Shibuya. I'd check out the bus options for your hotel:
https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/bus_services/narita/index

I'm sure you've seen this, but there are discounted ways to buy subway tickets, which I didn't look into personally:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/index.html

The subway seemed confusing to me before I went because there are 3 different lines in Tokyo, if you count the JR train. But they're all relatively easy to figure out and you'll just use whichever is most convenient to your location. When you get in the station, you look at the map to see what the cost is from your station to the next (160 yen or whatever) and put that amount in the machine to get your ticket. Cash only.

I'm jealous of your trip. Hope you have a great time.

P.S. If you do karaoke while you're there, it makes sense to buy a membership. I now carry a membership card for Karaoke Kan in Shinjuku.

38

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: March 23, 2015, 03:38:32 PM »

GOSP returning to the board has been a really great thing dudes. Dudes.

Delayed thanks amigo. I would love to contribute more, but I can't bring the zeal much anymore. True story.

Also, I will likely be in Omaha next month for a conference. So there's that.

39

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: 50 Most Amazing College Libraries

« on: March 10, 2015, 12:15:44 PM »

Was the piece intentionally badly written as irony -- perhaps as commentary on the lack of prestige for the written word in modern times? Or is the author just semi-illiterate?   

40

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: February 19, 2015, 04:06:52 PM »

has emo or anybody been to Zurich, and if so is it worth it to go for like half a day in between other places?
tia

I've spent a whole lot of time in Zurich, and it's one of my favorite places. But are you talking about a flight layover? Not sure that it's worth it just to go there on a layover. If you're coming on train you'll be in the middle of town, and I would absolutely recommend it for any length of time. You can just wander out onto Bahnhofstrasse ("train station street"), one of the main areas.

If I was there for just part of a day I would go to Sternen Grill and order one of each sausage on the menu, with a couple of beers. Then wander up into the old town for a few. But mostly just eat a heap of Sternen Grill sausages. (I just googled it and there's one at the airport now, FYI!)

thanks GoSP!
mrs mocat and i will be taking a train from munich to paris. we have an extra floating day in our schedule, so we can spend an extra day in munich, or stop and either spend most of a day in zurich or spend the night. it's sort of on the way, and i have heard good things so i wanted to check it out.

Fantastic! I haven't been to Munich so I can't compare directly, but I think you'd like Zurich. It's very compact and the important sites to see are all really walkable from the train station, on either side of the river. I often stay with friends there, but I once stayed at the Hotel Storchen and found it nice -- and it's also walkable from the train station.

41

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: February 19, 2015, 03:47:36 PM »

has emo or anybody been to Zurich, and if so is it worth it to go for like half a day in between other places?
tia

I've spent a whole lot of time in Zurich, and it's one of my favorite places. But are you talking about a flight layover? Not sure that it's worth it just to go there on a layover. If you're coming on train you'll be in the middle of town, and I would absolutely recommend it for any length of time. You can just wander out onto Bahnhofstrasse ("train station street"), one of the main areas.

If I was there for just part of a day I would go to Sternen Grill and order one of each sausage on the menu, with a couple of beers. Then wander up into the old town for a few. But mostly just eat a heap of Sternen Grill sausages. (I just googled it and there's one at the airport now, FYI!)

42

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: February 19, 2015, 02:53:12 PM »

I did ramen at ippudo west. Wish there was something like it in kc. Amazing. Also loved Korean food at a place called Barn Joo. Across from Beecher cheese which is a really cool shop/ apps&drinks place

You picked some fun spots!

43

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: February 19, 2015, 02:45:05 PM »

And yes I live 2 blocks from Speedy Romeo and it is delightful

You're all set then.

44

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: February 19, 2015, 02:43:16 PM »

Also, need a place in Brooklyn, headed over there for either lunch or dinner depending on what I find.

If you go to Professor Thoms check out the upstairs. White Horse has a good happy hour, but I was a little disappointed. Other places I haven't been to but 1 if by land is supposed to be great obviously. I heard that Union Square Cafe is closing soon, you might want to add that to your list.

Brooklyn ask GOSP, I used to live in Williamsburg and can give you suggestions for that if you're heading there.

Glasserie in Greenpoint was my favorite restaurant in the city for a while, but it's hard to get to. Roberta's Pizza in Bushwick is the best pizza on earth, followed closely by Paulie Gee's pizza in Greenpoint. In south Brooklyn, Dover has a fantastic prix fixe. Five Leaves on the Greenpoint/Williamsburg border has great food, and it's by a fantastic bierhall, Spritzenhaus. However, it sounds like you might be headed to Williamsburg based on your description, so I'll tee that up for Paul Moscow.

45

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: February 19, 2015, 02:30:46 PM »

yes i am terrified of the subway.  I downloaded the hopstop app and even with that I still managed to miss my connection or screw something up pretty much every time I tried to get anywhere.  I'll be living in Brooklyn, (bedstuy) and working in the financial district. 

Last time I was in town I tried to get from my job interview in the financial district to visit a friend of mine who works right by the chelsea piers and I backtracked so many times on the subway that I actually would have gotten there faster if i just walked.

yeah everyone tells me I'll be on subway autopilot soon enough and i'm looking forward to that.  I'm mostly just embarrassed because for how much that city is just a grid I can't seem to figure out my cardinal directions.  Like, if I'm coming up out of a subway station I've never been in, there is a 100% chance I don't know north from south and will have to pull up either google maps or hopstop to see which way I'm walking and chances are it's probably the wrong direction.

Don't worry about that, literally nobody will care as long as you don't stop at the top of the stairs and block the exit.

Which line are on you in Bedstuy?  A/C or G?  If it's the G you can shoot up to Greenpoint for good times on the weekend.  Are you near Speedy Romeo pizza?

46

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: February 19, 2015, 02:26:11 PM »

Thoughts on any of these?
- Employees Only been there for drinks only
- 1 if by land, 2 if by sea
- Marea fabulous seafood, priced well for what you get
- Alder I wasn't wowed, but went with a vegetarian; I remember thinking the drinks were the best part
- Per Se (I can't pull the trigger on this one I don't think)
- White Horse Tavern good burger & fries, better when you can sit outside
- The Smith solid food; good vibe; nothing special
- Professor Thom's ? delicious nachos
- Grand Central Oyster Bar (was being renovated last visit) good seafood; cool Mad Men-type atmosphere, or used to be

Heard great things about Per Se and 1 If By Land (the latter of which is supposed to be the most romantic dinner place in NYC). A very good not-too-fancy seafood place is L&W Oyster, also Fishtail by David Burke. Folks seem to love Charlie Bird, but I was handicapped again by going with a vegetarian.

47

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: February 19, 2015, 02:10:45 PM »

Where are you living? I endorse chum's idea of living in Jersey and eating in diners. That's not what I've done, but it appeals to me on a visceral level.

48

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: February 18, 2015, 05:13:34 PM »

Grammercy Tavern is always good. I've only eaten at the bar.

Cosme is the very best meal I've had in NYC in a good while. And not too expensive. See if you can get a reservation.

2014 was the year of ramen in NYC. Ivan Ramen is supposed to be the best, and I'd suggest trying it at Gotham West Market, which is a food court (sort of) where you can try Ivan Ramen, Court Street Grocers, The Cannibal, and others. (Calling it a food court is a disservice -- if you look it up, you'll see that it is considered a good spot to eat.)

If you want to blow a bunch of cash on a fancy meal and love very good Japanese food (not sushi), go to Brushstroke.

I haven't had a chance to go there yet, but I feel like I can recommend Kitty's Canteen. It's described as "a jazz bar and Jewish soul-food joint that looks like a New Orleans bordello run by a religious cat lady." If you go too late, you'll need to get by a bouncer.

Haven't tried Mercato yet, but it looks nice.

Can't give you a defnitive answer michigancat, but I don't think so...

49

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Risky Hiring

« on: February 12, 2015, 01:46:54 PM »

Pretty sure we already had this thread.

Maybe Eddie Sutton @ OSU (after KSU passed on him)

I'm sure there have got to be other examples. Probably there are several coaches who were "pressured out" rather than fired, like Tubby at UK or Dana Altman at KSU (though Altman doesn't fit the mold of this question, because he went to Creighton next).

50

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: why did kruger leave k-state?

« on: February 10, 2015, 10:57:11 AM »

Years ago I wrote out a comparison of KU and KSU basketball history on the eve of the two teams' 1988 Elite Eight game. They were very comparable, with KSU having the edge in certain areas like #1 rankings and NCAA appearances (IIRC). Fatty used that post as his signature for a while...

But, my god, when KU has Roy Williams as coach and KSU has Asbury and Wooldridge as coaches, your programs are going to go in opposite directions. Fast.