The Sicatoka

No comments on that, eh?

I can't believe I'm about to do this: JBB is right (gasp!) about one thing. That Clear Channel / UND contract is pretty good to both sides. I'm glad UND has it with them. Whew! I'm glad that's over. Now, about Sioux fans jumping all over Ed for those comments: I'm sure JBB, et al, would sit idly by if Jack Michaels (color voice for Bison BB and FB) used 20 minutes of his weeknight WDAY sports talk show to rip, as "bush league" and worse, Zaundra Bina (sp) or Bucky Maughan (sp) for missing an interview. That would be the equivalent situation.

tony: Why would UND fans complain when it's not their ox being gored? Ed picks a "windmill" and starts a "controversy". It's his standard operating procedure: create a controversy. Why? Ratings. People are listening and calling, aren't they? Past targets? The Fargo Forum Editorial Board NDSU Joe Chapman "The other station" in Fargo Apparently it's Dean Blais' turn.

The more I find out about this situation the more I'm seeing that with a more professional response by the on-air personality none of it would have occurred. Sure, take a little jab at Blais for not making the interview. A 20 minute rant is over the top. I'm sure Ed's been (as he calls it) stiffed in the past. It happens. Schedules get tight and tough some times. Apparently it was water under the bridge to Ed's producers but for some reason not to him. The other thing that I've learned digging into this is that Dan Benson got caught in the crossfire. Upon further review, he tried to do all the right things but that circumstances didn't allow for things to work out as planned. My apologies to Dan for even hinting that this may have been due to some failing on his part.

The only 'poll' that matters is the 'pole' you raise a championship banner on.

Now there's a little gem that didn't come out that particular Monday evening. Shame-shame on Farkas for trying to schedule at the last minute. I do remember that in that case Benson was good enough to spend some time on the show with Farkas. Applause to Dan Benson for doing that in that situation. It's too bad that producer didn't keep Dan Benson on the line on Friday to talk to Ed and explain the situation on the air. It might have saved Ed from, well, being himself.

When have either of those ever mattered to Ed Schultz? Like I said, there's more than enough "poor form" to go around on this one.

First, Ed was out of line. Yes, he was stiffed but it has to have happened before. How Ed handled it was unprofessional. Next, apparently someone (Blais or Benson) did the stiffing. That too is uncool and unprofessional. Benson did schedule that interview (with Farkas) when he knew Zach had a Monday night class. That's reality. Is this situation Benson's fault? Who knows. I'm asking. If you interpret my past statement to blame it all on Benson you're wrong. Those other guys are big boys and control their own actions. I'm asking if Benson may have had some role in setting up this war of words. A wise person who posts here (self-identify if you choose to) reminded me that not that long ago there was a spat between our favorite hockey play-by-play guy and our favorite head coach. At issue? Getting stiffed on interviews. Our favorite play-by-play guy handled it more subtly and professionally. Bravo to Tim. There appears to be enough "poor form" behavior on this one to more than go around. It appears in this case that it has just taken on a life of its own and went too far too fast. Remember one other thing: Ed's a radio guy. Think his numbers were any good today?

The unbeaten streak had to end sooner or later. Now the coaches have something to yell about in practice. If the team is going to lose because of a slow, flat period I'd rather it be in January than March. You can learn from it and correct it in January.

JBB: If there's one thing in life I'm sure of it's that Ed Schultz won't be drawing a pension from NASA.

Tune in Ed at 9:00 this morning. Give him no more than 15 minutes, and then decide from there. That article mentioned Dan Benson. This is the same Dan Benson that promised a Zach Parise interview to Mick Farkas on Monday Night Sports Talk about two months ago. The catch? Benson didn't check Zack's schedule. Zach has a class Monday nights. Do I see some sort of pattern forming regarding interviews and a particular scheduler?

sprig: Be bold. Be adventureous. Drive to the nearest "civilized" town and find a pub and ask for the game to be put on the tube.

Can he play goalie?

Call 'em back and tell 'em to put it on all of the Midcontinent Cable portion Fighting Sioux Sports Network. Please! Forget those Cable One weenies in Fargo!

Channel 23 in GF? Is that "The Fighting Sioux Sports Network" channel up there? If so, is it possible that the rest of us with access to that will also be as blessed? You gotta have a dream!

Which players made the trip down to "The John" and which stayed home?

"The Fan Radio Network" must be desperate for guests. They had Fighting Sioux Basketball voice Mick Farkas (sp) on during the 6 pm hour last night. (Mick runs Clear Channel station KVOX-AM in Fargo so The Fan is sticking to CC/Fan Network voices.) They asked him (Mick) about Sioux/Gopher hockey. And you thought no one could know less about hockey than PA, Dubay, and Sid ....

Do "sacks against" and "yards lost to sacks" count against the passing numbers? I know why the award is back and you know why I ask that question. PS - Why would a IAA powerhouse like NDSU bother to compare its QB to a QB at a DII?

How Tim O'Keefe can succeed so well at his endeavours, considering the pain that Notre Dame moniker must give him, amazes me.

Shot glasses. Sure, I understand the message there. Like I said, no school should be there. But they're worried about sweat pants? It would be interesting to find out if any of those 50, uh, excuse me, 51, petitioners ever had a pair of "protest blue jeans" back in the 1960s/1970s. You know the ones I'm talking about. They had a US flag stitched on the hind quarters (and goodness knows you daren't eliminate that form of free expression). It'd be really interesting to know. PS - I've never understand why anyone would want anything bulletin-boarded on their gluteus maximus region, but (pun intended) that's a whole other conversation.

God help Notre Dame if they have their moniker or logo on a shot glass.

What'd Coach Blais say earlier this season? Something like whoever plays with Parise will "get rich" when it comes to scoring. Hey, he's just sharing the wealth. This week's lottery winners: James Massen and Kevin Spiewak! And with any Blais line-up: Wait half a period; it'll change.

Should any campus bookstore be selling shot glasses with the school logo?* The rest of it? Hey, go to the pro shop at REA. The licensing fee and the sales profits both go to UND that way. * I'll refrain from direct mention of a recent incident involving a student and shots at a rival school.

If UND would have had a 20 point lead, or even just made two more free-throws, it would have been a non-issue. It's not the first bad call in history and won't be the last. Move on.