Dedicated basketball fan makes a difference

Lea B. Olsen has written an article about community hoops and me.

Click here to see it.

Gonna Make You An Offer You Can’t Refuse - A Fan’s Perspective

editors note: this story was just too fun to read for me and i have to share it. there are pictures of these guys in the article website. click here to read the whole thing.

You’ve all seen (or at least heard of) them by now…Those ”dapper Don’s” in brilliant orange suits, black shirts, and black fedoras.
When they enter the building, they command attention. Springville fans love them. They are awesome. The girls on the team love them. They are fierce. The press loves them. They are the stuff of an instant legend.
In real life, just typical teenage boys, they represent everything that is good, and right, and amazing about life in a small town, and a small school.Some play basketball. Some play football. Some play baseball, or run track. Some are in band and drama. All are decent young men, and leaders within the school community. They are all seniors, who parted with hard earned cash for a brilliant orange suit, so they could make a BIG statement of support for their girls basketball team. Now how cool is that?
I’ll tell you how cool….so incredibly cool that they were instantly dubbed“The SHS Mafia”.

73-year-old Ken Mink is just another apathetic college athlete

By Eamonn Brennan Ken Mink's is by now a familiar tale. The Roane State College walk-on who was according to his account falsely accused of delinquency as a college hoopster in 1956, revived his career this year at the ripe age of 73. It's a goofy little feel-good story about a man fighting back against the march of time. Or something. It's really just an old dude that gets to sit on a basketball bench for a season, but it's fun, so I blog about it. Anyway, there's some slightly shocking news regarding Mink, news that you might want to be sitting down for. (Are you sitting? Of course you are. You're at a computer.) It seems Mink has lost his eligibility after failing a Spanish class, and his team is being asked to forfeit a game. College kids these days. Does the "student" in "student-athlete" mean nothing to them? Click here to read more.

Time To Get On The Soap Box

Do you want to tell everyone what you think of the MSHSL Transfer Policy? Or the run time rule? How about your thoughts about AAU/Spring - Summer Programs? Do you just want everyone to know about your team/program?

Well personally I know there are a lot of folks out there that have something to say on at least one of these ideas if not others as well. I know this because everyday when I walk into a gym there will be at least 2 parents, players, coaches, or referee's offer up a thought or two.

Well now is your chance to ask the questions, share your ideas, or just offer your take on things. You never know who is going to be there and give you an answer, or has the same thoughts you do.

CommunityHoops.com will host an open forum for everyone on Saturday Feb. 14th from 10:30am until no later then 4:30pm. at the Southdale Library (7001 york ave south in edina)

Here is the chance for fans, parents, players, coaches, and administrators to come and talk about anything related to women's basketball. All comments, provided they are clean and do not "unnecessarily" attack someone, will be posted as part of the podcast for this event., If more show up then the room will hold there will be time taken to rotate everyone in and out of the room so all that came to take part can. No admission fee - and no snacks will be served. If you wish to reserve some open mic time before Saturday, e-mail Tony at event@communityhoops.com.

NDSU Athletics Hosts 18th Annual Bison Valentine Victory Blood Drive

The 18th annual Bison Valentine Victory Blood Drive, sponsored by North Dakota State University Athletics and United Blood Services, is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10 and Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the Bison Sports Arena. Donations will be taken from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both dates. The goal of this year's blood drive is gather 400 units of blood. The Bison Valentine Victory Blood Drive started in 1992 and has averaged approximately 261 donors with 240 units drawn over the 17 previous two-day events. The Bison Valentine Victory Blood Drive has averaged 108 first-time donors per year. United Blood Services provides blood and blood products for patients at 73 hospitals in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, and are in dire need of donations at this time. The purpose of the blood drive is to involve all athletics staff, student-athletes and coaches from each of North Dakota State's 16 intercollegiate sports. Each NDSU student-athlete is encouraged to recruit as many volunteers as possible for the blood drive. Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds. Donors also must show a list of medications taken in the past month and identification containing their legal name with a date of birth, photo ID, social security number or a United Blood Services assigned donor number. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Last year 58 walk-ins participated. Appointments are scheduled for every 15 minutes, and those wishing to schedule a time to donate are encouraged to call the NDSU Athletic Office at (701) 231-7807 or e-mail Lynn Dorn, the Director of Women's Athletics, at Lynn.Dorn@ndsu.edu

Edina 69 Southwest 59

The Hornets was up at halftime 30-29, and used a early run in the second half to pull away from the Lakers.  The Hornets were led by Junior Guard Taylor Young who finished with 24 pts.  Jamie Breshahan chipped in 20 pts, including 17 in the first half.  Southwest was led by Freshman Guard Mariah Adanene who finished with 23 points and Center Britta Syverson 17 points respectively.

Texas coach fired after 100-0 win

I found this on http://hoopism.blogspot.com/ By now, most have heard about the Covenant School's 100-0 victory over Dallas Academy Jan. 13. Yesterday, Covenant fired Coach Micah Grimes, calling the blowout "shameful." Grimes, however, emailed the Dallas Morning News disagreeing with the decision. I do not agree with the apology or the notion that the Covenant School girls basketball team should feel embarrassed or ashamed," Grimes wrote in the e-mail, according to the newspaper. The game has ignited an old debate on message boards about whether or not playing such a game is running up the score, or just how the cookie crumbles. What I thought most interesting in the story released today is that Texas has no mercy rule in girl's basketball. Why not? It's the right thing to do. In California, our mercy rule states that when a team attains a 40-point lead the clock then runs, not stopping for timeouts or free throws, even if the lead again dips below 40. Story link: http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/9134384?MSNHPHMA