Mine has a basketball twist!

In 1982, I was driving between Terre Haute and Evansville on U.S. 41. I was on my way to Nashville, when an Indiana State Trooper pulled me over. At the time, the courtesy was to walk to the Trooper's patrol car (nobody in their right mind would do that today).

When I arrived, the trooper indicated I was going 80 miles per hour in a 50 mile per hour zone. It was late at night and I apologized to the trooper, who immediately said, "you're a big one -- did you ever play basketball?" I confessed I did not but immediately told him I admired and respected Bobby Knight.

Needless to say that after watching the drubbing we took in the 1973 and 1976 Mideast Regional, I thought Bobby Knight was an ass. When I made my admire and respect comment, the Trooper and I had a long discussion about Indiana's 1982 basketball team, for which Knight arguably had done an excellent coaching job.

The Trooper proceeded to write me a warning and tell me, "take it easy." I got back in the car and the lovely Ms. Dgies damn near threw up when she heard that story.

Another time, I was on MN 61 near Grand Marais. My Dad, who was in memory care in Duluth, went out for the day with me and we rode to Grand Marais. On the way back, a Crimson Cruiser of the Minnesota State Patrol hung a "u" and started after me. My Dad actually started laughing as the trooper approached the car.

The Minnesota Trooper was an incredibly nice gentleman. After exchanging pleasantries and asking if we had an emergency, he let me know it was "too nice a day to go that fast." I was going 65 in a 55. After he did a quick check on my license, the Trooper came back, looked at my Dad and said, "sir, you're in charge. Can you keep this guy in order?"

My Dad looked at the Trooper and said, "are you kidding me. That ship sailed a long time ago."

"In that case," the Trooper said, "you should know I have some friends down the road and they are not as nice as I am! Here's a warning and enjoy your time in Minnesota. Come back and see us!" 

Quote from: The Sultan on October 22, 2025, 04:15:22 PMNo because all of the above examples include players who either used up their eligibility and/or willingly gave it up when they entered the NBA draft.

The issue here is that a player like London Johnson got $1 million when he joined the G-League ignite. Some incoming freshmen are literally getting that right off the bat. So why should Johnson not be able to play college ball?

I get why Izzo is upset by this, but logically there is no reason to keep Johnson from enrolling and playing.

What about the tax issues?

Quote from: TallTitan34 on October 22, 2025, 12:14:21 PMIn the movie Mean Girls, a character tries to make the word "fetch" popular as a substitute for "cool" or "awesome".  Another character tells her to stop because it's never going to happen (see GIF above).

I may be mistaken, but I believe Brew is referring to MU's promotion of Caedin as them "trying to make fetch happen".

This is entirely it. After last year, the idea of Caedin starting alongside Ben seems nuts, but so far Fetch has been named Domino of the Week three times and is one of the first names out of Shaka's mouth whenever he talks about this team.

Last year, we heard he would be a bit part of the rotation and that never really came to be. I think him being a Big East starting level center could be transformational for this squad, but remain skeptical. So I'm reserving judgment until I see Fetch happen.

Quote from: Shooter McGavin on October 22, 2025, 04:05:38 PMCould a three way player like J Lewis come back even if they have had NBA minutes?  Could NBA veterans on the down side of their careers who never got a degree do that?  Maybe a Wade or someone like him as he finishes up his degree?  Or is there a certain time frame and pro level reached that disqualifies them?

No because all of the above examples include players who either used up their eligibility and/or willingly gave it up when they entered the NBA draft.

The issue here is that a player like London Johnson got $1 million when he joined the G-League ignite. Some incoming freshmen are literally getting that right off the bat. So why should Johnson not be able to play college ball?

I get why Izzo is upset by this, but logically there is no reason to keep Johnson from enrolling and playing.

Far more dangerous are many of the off highway surface roads in Milwaukee where stop signs, yield signs, etc. (much less speed limits) are deemed rather optional by the younger set. Yikes. I've had several close calls the last couple years trying to stay of the way.

Quote from: muwarrior69 on October 22, 2025, 03:51:22 PMIzzo upset.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46680426/michigan-state-coach-tom-izzo-sounds-ncaa-louisville-signs-former-g-league-player

I'd love to see how 66-year-old Magic Johnson fared playing in college today.

Could a three way player like J Lewis come back even if they have had NBA minutes?  Could NBA veterans on the down side of their careers who never got a degree do that?  Maybe a Wade or someone like him as he finishes up his degree?  Or is there a certain time frame and pro level reached that disqualifies them?

Quote from: muwarrior69 on October 22, 2025, 03:51:22 PMIzzo upset.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46680426/michigan-state-coach-tom-izzo-sounds-ncaa-louisville-signs-former-g-league-player

Far bigger issue is the sudden rise in foreign players being admitted using similar rationale to admitting the former Ignite players. At least there is a small finite number of those former Ignite players while the new foreign influx is ongoing.

Tom has one or two "old man yells at cloud" moments every year. Probably best for him to move on...or coach D3 or something.