The Sicatoka

You're unfamiliar with diety who can both be in heaven and walk on earth? You've never heard the concept? And the prayer starts, "Our Hrkac, who art in Engelstad, ... " " ... and many false prophets will follow." - Hrkac 48: 46-70-116

The meltdown started when they blew a three-buff lead over Team RedMaple. It was assured when Rolston didn't go after the official harder for what should have been a major in that game. Rolston tried to make up for it by trying to plead a high-stick-no-goal (it was clean) and the official said no. I was almost expecting him to "fly a Hakstol" at that point. Rolston clearly lost control right there, and when a coach does he loses the team. The lost team now hasn't shown up the next day. Meltdown complete.

C'mon folks, obvious question: I know Malcolm Parks has two sons (but I don't know their names, and I'm almost sure they're in Edmonton). Is this Parks any relation to Mal? (If, IF, he's Mal's kid I hope for his sake he got his shot from his dad, but his skating ability and looks from his mom. ) And if anyone has to ask "Who's Mal Parks?" that's three "Hail Parise" and an "Our Hrkac" for penance.

6000 average in six years is a lovely goal. (And congrats on getting NDSU attendance back to where it was in '98, '99, and '03.) However, it forces one to look at what UND is doing by putting nearly 12000 per game into REA for hockey. UND has tapped into the hockey culture and the fans show up. Yet I'm told this is a BB-culture region. Yet, where are the fans of the college game? Could it be the actual product? Let me explain: No one will confuse UND or NDSU for Duke or North Carolina in college BB. Not a lot of UND or NDSU guys go on to the NBA. The talent you see there isn't the best you can find (live or on TV). But yesterday, in hockey's mid-season showcase, the captain of the NHL Blackhawks is a UND alumnus. He was in a Sioux jersey two seasons ago and an NHL captain today. The scoring leader for New Jersey (and another of their top five scorers) are UND alumni. You can't find much better talent. Ben Woodside is good, but he's not Tyler Hansbrough. Travis Zajac is Travis Zajac; Zach Parise is Zach Parise; Jon Toews is Jon Toews: They're some of the best in the best professional league in the world. And UND fans watched them play in college. You go to REA and you see the best at that level, and soon to be at the next level. You don't do that at The Betty or the BSA. Could it be that, to a majority of regional BB fans, the product isn't worth the price (when a regional BB fan can stay home and watch Duke and UNC on TV)? PS - The Fargo Force is averaging 3500+ in year one. They're outdrawing NDSU and UND. That's a pretty tough indictment toward NDSU (and UND) BB attendance prospects: Where are the college BB fans?

You can't have it both ways: You're bemoaning the attendance numbers (1000-ish) and yet say the Betty (3500) is too small. Allow me to point out again ... (and the numbers are close, not exact) Betty - 3500 Lower Bowl (and suites) of REA - 6500 Alerus in BB config - 9100 REA (total - BB config) - 13000 The Betty is a practice facility (badly needed space) that can hold 3500 for a game. UND got it for next to nothing. The issue isn't facility, it's more marketing, and honestly, product. But let's look at marketing and product: NDSU BB has roughly the same attendance numbers (save for the ORU game, which skews the average) as UND but in a market that's double the size, and with far more marketing and media. That should be alarming to BB fans up and down the RRV.

What scares me is that "you won't notice a difference in style" comment (not an exact quote) when Hak took over. Hey, I do see a difference, and I don't believe for the better. The rules have been changed to favor "racehorse" and at times UND looks like it's migrating to a trap. The other concern is this: All these guys are now here under the Hakstol regime. All of Blais' guys are gone. Is this Hak's ultimate design? Alternatively, some blame needs to go toward the few "big guns" on the team: Misters Duncan and Vande Velde and Kozek are MIA in crunch time. (Boys, Miller and Martens, and a freshman named Hextall, have stepped up bigger than you.) Time to lead from the front. PS - Matt Watkins, didn't you finish 8th in BCHL scoring one season, when Kozek finished 2nd and Duncan finished 3rd?

HEY! Be nice to Team Kaz. They struggled through that qualifying tournament but earned the bid fair and square by getting past Ecuador (and their balanced attack) in the quarters, squeeking by a scrappy Hispanola (Haiti and Dominican Republic) team in the semis, and surviving a slugfest with Barbados in the qualifier game. And don't forget Barbados was coming off that big win over pre-tournament favorite Cambodia, so Team Borat had no easy path. The Kaz just ran into hot Canadian and US goaltending. That explains their offensive (or is it offensive) production. You should know that.

You're a Puce fan! Fuchsia! (clap-clap) Fuchsia! (clap-clap) Fuchsia! (clap-clap) ... Oh, wait, fuchsia is too close to red. Sorry. Laugh now: How far away is it really.

Ah-ha! So Stanford (Cardinal, as in red) and Harvard (Crimson, as in red) and Cornell (Big Red, as in, er..., red) are all in the wrong! More proof that ... Green >> All shades of Red, including cardinal, crimson, and especially maroon.

What happened to "you won't see a change in style of play"? Who to replace Hak with? Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 (Close circuit to Cary Eades: You are perceived as part of the problem, not part of the solution, right now. Sorry, you are.)

DU going to the "bitten into jelly donut" or "coffee stain" (I guess it's supposed to be a red-tailed hawk) logo was the precursor to this. Some DU fans were stating as much at the time. But no one listened to them either. One more note: I had to search hard to find that logo. DU's website has more of the just "DENVER" or an interlocked DU logo than anything. We'll soon all be Stanford, Harvard, North Texas, Dartmouth (oops), and Cornell: Just colors.

Did someone say ... "ugly sweater contest"?

Let's take a little ride in The Sicatoka's "Way Back Machine" and go wa-a-a-ay back to February 20, 2008: On February 20, 2008, the 2008 UND Football schedule was not yet announced. And now zapped back to the present: I won't be worried until at least March.

What's it say in the endzones again? Seems Alerus Center would be on the hook for a new playing surface.

Ah, and hence comes another opportunity to use my four favorite words. http://www.ndsuspectrum.com/joomla/index.p...0&Itemid=42 Someone has been warning about things like this coming next for years: First "people", then "sacred images". No one listened; let's try again. PS - I. Told. You. So.

Yesterday, the pastor of Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (in Bismarck) asked parishoners to pray for the family of a UND student and member of the parish who'd taken her own life. If you are troubled, this may seem like the answer. It is not. It's never as bad as it seems. Talk to someone, anyone. Please. Now, out of good taste, and deference to that family, I think this subject is now closed.

The Best Little Monopoly in America.

Before y'all start chalking up pleasant exhibitions victories you may want to take note of a recent college/U-18 matchup.

If you had Mayville State and 83.5 points ... you lost!

Let's see ... - No Sioux game on Saturday the 20th - Des Moines Bucs at Fargo on Saturday the 20th - Bruneteau, Gleason, and White all play for Des Moines Hmmm ...

2005: UND lost to DU in Columbus in the championship game (after defeating Minnesota in the semis). 2006: Lose to BC in Milwaukee in semis 2007: Lose to BC in St. Louis in semis 2008: Lose to BC in Denver in semis Geez I hate teams that wear maroon and gold (tip of cap to UMD today).

I'm probably going to regret this later (as he'll probably "Lasch" out at UND for it), but didn't SCSU have a Hobey 10 guy last year who returned this year? Is he on a milk carton now?

How much was not having to play UND and USD and UNO worth to UMD this year? Those three games normally cause nagging injuries at a minimum. I wondered if the old NSIC power, now with NCC experience, and back into the NSIC, wouldn't be able to do big things.

Braegelmann and Troen!

For some reason I read that and could just envision you in a Jim Mora-esque rant. Four? Playoffs?