Odds and Ends for the End of 2006

As 2006 draws to a close, here are a few Wildcat items that are worth mentioning:

• Cats win 11 straight -- the Lopez twins look to be force for Stanford, but Arizona's experience and speed do in the Cardinal.  Barry Tompkins and Dan Belluomini be damned - they are such homers for Cal and Stanford.
• Hug-a-Lute -- I did notice Lute give Shakur a hug when Staf came to the bench yesterday, but I didn't realize what a big deal it was at the time.
• Oh so close -- AZ's 14-point win failed to cover the spread by 1/2 point.  In the Memphis game the spread was met exactly.  What kind of crystal ball do those point-spread guys have, anyway?
• Gilbert Arenas still cracks me up --  Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, who sometimes watches infomercials to pass the time in his hotel room: "The last thing I bought was this colon cleanser. I just got talked into it. I'm like, 'Man, he makes it sound so good.' "
• Mike Bell does us proud -- not bad for an undrafted free agent rookie.  And check out the photographer's name....
• It's the chemistry, man -- Less drama, better basketball.  And more wins.  I like it!
• Sneak preview of Air Raid -- With Sonny Dykes bringing his spread offense to UA from Texas Tech, it was of special interest to watch the Insight Bowl the other night.  Can he pull it off here?
• Nice wrap-up -- late Christmas presents to Wildcats.

Happy New Year, and Bear Down!

Cat Fight!

Cat fight in Tucson tonight, as the Houston Cougars venture into McKale to take on the Cats.  The obscene starting time of 8:00p locally, coupled with the Christmas break for students, could  mean a lower-than-normal turnout for the game.  Damn that contract with Fox Sports!  Anyway, there will still be more fans in attendance that at your typical Tempe Normal game.  Hey - maybe we'll get to see some bench play.

• Next up - Memphis.  One of the week's top games, at least in this guy's perspective.
• Iggy, Iggy - Interesting 1-on-1 with Andre.  Can he be the man for the 76er's now tha AI is riding the pine?
• Two brothers, one play - isn't it crazy how that blown call in the Oregon-Oklahoma game cost both the Cats and the Sooners?
• DE bookend - "Sandman II" commits to UA football.  Keep 'em coming, Mikey.
• A legend comes home - When Mike Bell returns to Glendale today as the Broncos play the Cards he'll be coming home to his roots.  Good job, Mike.

Bear Down.

Thanks, Sparky!

Great Hire for ASU !

It won't be long before ASU football will be on NCAA probation... half its football players in jail or court ..and their new coach in jail for a DUI.

More reaction here from some Idaho fans. This should be fun to watch, kitties.

'Zoning In

As the Cats prepare to take on the SDSU Aztecs tomorrow at Cox Arena, here's some light reading to hold you over until then:
Hometown Hero -- read all about Chase, a native of pretty Encinitas. Sweet.
Sonny Boy -- Sonny Dykes takes over the reigns of the football offense. Do we want it more offensive or less offensive than the 2006 version? Throw it long, Sonny.
He was there -- at the Jimmy V Classic, MSG. How was the popcorn?
Lute to retire? -- Nope. Not for some time, anyway.
Goins gone -- DB recruit reneges to head for Cheeseland. Adios.

What a difference a week makes

Last weekend, we were drowning our sorrows in a cup of decaf over the Cats loss to Tempe Normal in the final football game of the year. Bad enough that the Territorial Cup has to stay on that dingy campus for one more year, but now the Sparkettes are looking for a new head coach. Jeez, I was hoping their win would get him at least one more season in the Valley of the Runs.

Today, though, we celebrate Lute's Troops, fresh off a stirring victory over the Fighting Illini. More on that and even more Wildcat news here:

• Chase Budinger is getting quite a fan following, as he turns in one star performance after another. Hope he sticks around for more than one year.
• Shedding our "soft" reputation? Still remains to be seen, but the defense will need to step it up for the entire game if the Cats want to be taken seriously.
• Nice to have the shoe on the other foot this time, watching the Cats come back from a double-digit deficit and win one going away.
• Mike Bell loses bet to Jake the Snake, suffers the ultimate insult (last topic in article)
• With Stoops looking for an offensive coordinator, does he like Dykes? And don't forget Dirk...what a switcheroo that would be, eh?
• And finally, here's a recap of football recruits to date.

Vaya con Wilbur