Johnny Hammersticks

I just got a text from a friend on the hill, and they said that after the Miami loss in Brooklyn Tyler rode home with his parents and not with his teammates on the bus. Really pissed off his teammates and coaches. Said he has been "checked out" for some time now, and was leaving regardless. Was not really speaking to his teammates during the NIT, and had a particular "beef" with John Gillon for some reason. I'll share more as it comes out. I'm trying to get more info on JB and Hop.

The situation between JB and Hop, from what I can gather, was that Hop felt that JB should have been giving him more latitude in making decisions that would affect the roster for the next few seasons. I mentioned the 2 JUCO transfers that Hop wanted to offer, but was overruled by Boeheim. There also was the situation with Frank Howard. Hop went to the AD and Chancellor and wanted him off the team. JB then went to bat and overruled. Hop took offense. It is my understanding their relationship has been strained for a while now.

He informed his team in the locker room after the Ole Miss game. I have eluded to the "toxicity" that has existed behind the scenes not only between the players, but between the coaching staff. This is one of the main reasons Tyler is leaving. If he could play right away elsewhere, I think he would transfer. Shame.

Because the university was fully planning on Hop being the HC after next season when the decision was announced. Hop was squeezed out. There is a great deal of "information" flying around now as to how and why this happened, but based on what I have heard, I sincerely believe Hop fully expected to be the next HC of Syracuse.

That's like saying, "Just buy that Ford Focus for $35,000. If it turns out to be a piece of crap vehicle, then we can always park it in the back yard and plant flowers in it!"

Hop deserves better and I wish him well. It appears that he got a total screw job by Syracuse University, landed nicely on his feet in a very good situation, and is behaving like a classy individual...as always. Great recruitor, and I hope he is an even better HC (as long as Wash is not playing SU). Get 'em Hop.

Quite possibly true, but I wonder about the rumors surrounding the recruiting disagreements between JB and Hop. There also was an alleged disagreement between the two about how to handle the "Howard situation." Hop wanted him gone...JB overruled. But again...who knows.

Hmmm...seems like the Chancellor, Kent Syverud, changed his stance on Boeheim in the wake of Hop jumping ship. I had heard from 2 different people that JB had previously requested a contract extension and was denied by Kent. Glad to learn GMac is staying put. Perhaps he had an offer on the table at Washington and decided to stay after Boeheim was extended? Who knows...

No probs. I also was surprised when I heard about the GMac thing. I hope it's not true, actually. One would think that GMac would be torn due to his history with the program and JB, but there is no guarantee now with Hop gone that he will have a job with JB's successor (which I suspect will be an external hire). My peeps tend to be pretty on the money with their info, but they have been wrong before.

Lydon, he's gone. As of right now, Battle and Thompson are staying. Battle likely to go through NBA combine anyway. Again, take it or leave it...Boeheim will not be the HC after next season.

Little tid bits I have heard... This move by Hop was the result of an ongoing quarrel that has developed between JB and Hop over the past couple seasons. Allegedly, Hop has been frustrated with JB's lack of involvement in recruiting as of late, and essentially JB has "vetoed" several recruiting decisions that Hop wanted to make including offering schollys to a couple different JUCO transfers. Allegedly, Hop was at the end of his rope, and with his impending takeover of the program, felt as though he should have been given more say in the decision that would help shape the team for when he took over. I am also hearing that GMac and Jason Hart (current AC at USC) will follow Hop to Washington. Also, FWIW, I am hearing that JB will not be the HC beyond next season. Again, take it or leave it...just what I'm hearing from some folks in the know.

Lydon is gonzo.

1. Breaking Bad 2. Game of Thrones 3. Curb Your Enthusiasm 4. The Sopranos 5. Northern Exposure Honorable Mention: Good Times

Pick the one who is the biggest pain in your a$&, and furthest away from your work space (this is important). Buy a quarter pound of raw shrimp, and hide it somewhere in their work area. Make sure to leave it in an open plastic bag. Sit back and enjoy sweet, sweet revenge. In about 24 hours their work space will have a pungent odor, and they will go mad trying to find the source of the stench.

Holy jeebus man! That's awful. When I was a kid one of our neighbors blew his brains out with a shotgun, and his kids found him in his bedroom when they got home from school. I remember my parents being so angry with him, and my mother saying "if he wanted to kill himself he should have gone off in the woods to do it." I remember thinking that was so mean of her to say, but now I certainly get it.

Even I can't relate to that level of craziness/jealousy, and I work with a bunch of women. What do you do for a living? Is it a work environment where people are just miserable in general?

This. Please help me understand the fascination with this guy. He's not good in coverage, and he's too small to play linebacker. I get how a versatile LB/S is valuable in McDermott's defense, but this guy doesn't appear to be a very good football player. Am I missing why he is worth being taken in the first round?

I thought NGU was Jim Kelly...

Stupidity. But she was pregnant. Sad. I had a lacrosse teammate in college who got hit and killed by a train in Syracuse, but I'm pretty sure it was suicide. Poor Ducky...what a way to go...

I'm thinking I'm done going to weddings for cousins I barely even know. Costs me at least a few hundred, not including a gift, even if it is being held in my home town and we can crash at my parents' house. From now on make up an excuse, RSVP no, and send to couple a check. I've been to 4 stupid weddings in the past 3 months.

Don't feed the trolls.

Sounds good. Love a good IPA with hints of citrus. Goose Island is pretty "mainstream" for you beer geeks, but I like it for it for that reason. I love reading the reviews on beeradvocate. Interesting question...is there now a beer equivalent to the wine sommelier? Must be a training program up and running by now at least. This is a cool idea, Pooj. I'd be in for a trade or two.

But what about the comp picks!? <ducks>

What the f&@%!!!!!?

My sister is 3 years younger than me. She invited me to her graduation weekend at Sienna. Well, she had this smokin hot roommate who I had hung out with on several occasions when my sister brought her home with her. Nothing ever happened between us, but we were always flirting with each other. Long story short...the night before graduation we all went out and got really, really messed up. I don't remember much of the evening, but my sister told me later that I was all over her friend at the bar and they found us fooling around in the parking lot. She was pissed. The next morning I woke up to my sister screaming at me at the top of her lungs. I was wrapped up, naked as a jay bird, in a blanket with her BFF on their kitchen floor. All her roommates came running to see what was happening. Let's just say my sister didn't speak to me for a few days, and my parents were not impressed. I was young and single and she was more than willing...what's a guy to do? What was really awkward was when the same girl was maid of honor in my sister's wedding (about 10 years later) and I was a groomsman...with my very pregnant wife sitting just a few yards away from us.