Dribbling Ink

AP Photo/Al Behrman -- Caption: It's like a rematch of the 1994 championship game on Friday: Arkansas versus Duke. Well, sort of. (Written Wednesday night:) The NCAA Tournament is absolutely one of my favorite events of the year. When else can you wake up and watch basketball practically nonstop from Thursday to Sunday? In fact, I may skip class and work for the rest of the week and do nothing else but watch games in the student center. A fellow co-worker of mine used to save up his vacation to do this very thing (well, at his house)--hint: he works at the Jonesboro Sun now. Anyway, I promised chats on Thursdays, and a chat I will deliver. Of course, this week I am going to do things a little differently. I will be talking to multiple people and the theme will be NCAA brackets. I know, I know: I said last week was my last basketball post, but I meant about Razorback basketball. This will be my last basketball post--unless something crazy happens like UAPB beating Duke. (Skip to Th...

Caption: The Big Nasty looks to add to his legacy in Arkansas as a coach. I couldn’t make up my mind whether I wanted to write this blog or not, especially after last night’s failure. However, I feel better today, and it makes sense to write a wrap-up blog about the Arkansas basketball team now that the season is officially over. (I intended to post this on Saturday; nevertheless, I didn’t get it finished in time and one of my many cousins came down to Arkadelphia for a visit.) First, I’d like to start with a website I find amusing, and it’s actually relevant: http://firejohnpelphrey.com/ I guess it would be a stretch to think this is some sort of conspiracy by Pelphrey or Jeff Long to make a few extra bucks? I mean, with all the money the university is throwing at the football program, the basketball program has to keep up somehow, right? Of course, I am kidding, I think. Anyway. I listen to a number of Arkansas sports shows daily and the hottest topic for the past month ...

Caption: Your optimistic dad cheering for the Razorbacks. No offense to baby Chase, but the magic is gone. Yep, it’s time for another classic Arkansas drought. As an avid sports fan, I understand that there will always be ups and downs no matter how good the team is you are rooting for. As much as my wife would hate to admit it, even the Kansas Jayhawks have lost a game this season—the funny thing about that loss is it’s the only Kansas game we made a point to watch all year. Luckily, Arkansas ’ losing streak is exactly what An Optimistic Razorback Fan wanted to talk about in this week’s installment of the Dribbling Ink Conversation Series. An Optimistic Razorback Fan: OK, since losing is a part of sports, I should be able to cope with the Razorbacks’ newest losing streak. Right? You win some, you lose some? Plus, we still have a chance of finishing .500 and going to the NIT. Jacob Cooper: Wrong. Let’s look at Kansas ’ loss to Tennessee earlier in the year. Since the Jayha...

Photo by Wesley Hitt 7:18 : In case you didn’t know, I am old school: I listen to the Razorbacks’ games on the radio. Why? (Wait, be right back—my fried rice is burning)…Anyway, I don’t have cable or satellite. If you read Dribbling Ink the first time around, you know that I am too poor for cable, even though I am doing better economically than a few months ago. My wife says getting cable would make finishing homework impossible, which is probably true. I have enough trouble doing my homework with nothing else to do. 7:25 : The Arkansas-South Carolina game tips off in about forty minutes. I forgot to mention that tonight’s game is the point of this running diary. The Hogs can’t afford to drop tonight’s home game after losing to Alabama over the weekend. Not to say it’s a must-win, but the Hogs won’t win the SEC West if they lose this game. 7:28 : My research paper topic is due tomorrow in my American West class. I’m guessing that when my professor says he is open to almo...

A baby-sized caption: The Razorbacks' lucky charm, Chase Gross. First, I have an admission to make. After eating supper, watching some Smallville (yes, I know I am the only person over thirteen that still watches this show), and saying goodbye to my wife (who left to dissect a cat or something), I had one thing on my mind: watching the Arkansas-LSU basketball game. However, after a stressful day at work, which consisted of sitting in an empty computer lab for over three hours, I was exhausted. Blah, blah, blah: I feel asleep in the recliner. I woke up around ten and checked my phone, which showed the usual pre-midnight text: “Wanna play some COD (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for PS3 for my non-gaming readers)?” I needed to do homework, intended to watch the game, and wanted to play COD; nevertheless, I crawled into bed and slept. And Wednesday ended. I am a terrible fan, I know. But it’s the first thing I thought about Thursday morning. I opened Firefox with anxiety. For a ...