Leaving the Hive
You may not know Michael Thompson, but chances are good, you know his voice.
For the two years that the Hornets made their nest in Oklahoma City, Thompson was the man on the P.A. He was the voice you heard during the games, announcing players and explaining fouls but also pumping up the crowd.
Him: “Who’s ball is it?”
Entire Ford Center: “Hornets ball.”
Thompson, of course, went back to New Orleans with the team earlier this year. He also works as owner George Shinn’s right-hand man, which means he gets to deal with those of us in the media on a regular basis, so there was plenty for Thompson to do.
Earlier this week, though, I learned that Thompson is leaving the Hornets and New Orleans. He’s taking a job with the Bobcats in Charlotte.
The Hornets’ loss is the Bobcats’ gain.
All of this got me to thinking — how bad are things in New Orleans? Thompson is a guy who held a big-time position with the Hornets. Helping a millionaire run an NBA team during the day, then being the P.A. announce for the games at night? There aren’t too many gigs in sports sweeter than that.
And Thompson was a long-timer with the Hornets, too.
So, the fact that he’s leaving the team is no small sign. I just have to wonder about the state of the city and the state of team. Crowds have been disappointing, even for big games. And even though we hear about how much has improved since Hurricane Katrina, much work still remains around the city.
I’m sad to see Thompson leave the Hornets. I’m sure they are, too. But what concerns me most is what’s happening in New Orleans, not necessarily for the sake of the Hornets but for the sake of all the people there.
The city needs voices like Michael Thompson’s.
Tiger travesty
The BCS mess continues.
Watch my latest video commentary or read below:
First of all: a bit of disclosure. I grew up in Kansas. I went to the University of Kansas. As a kid, I even cheered for the Jayhawks.
Their mortal enemies, by the way, are the Missouri Tigers.
And after last night’s announcement of the BCS bowls, I can confidently say this — Missouri got robbed. Hosed. Completely and totally jobbed. Say it however you want, but the fact that Kansas is going to a BCS bowl and Missouri is not is a complete and total crock.
No way the Jayhawks should be going to the Orange Bowl and the Tigers should be headed to the Cotton Bowl.
For all the insanity of this college football season, this is by far the biggest injustice of them all.
Missouri is 11-2 and Kansas is 11-1, but both of the Tigers losses came against Oklahoma. The Sooners, by the way, won the Big 12 championship on Saturday night and will play in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Jayhawks might have only lost one game, but it was against the Tigers.
Head to head, the Tigers were better. Lots better, from what I saw. They rolled up 36 points against the Jayhawks, and even though a late Kansas surge cut the final deficit to single digits, Missouri was more than eight points better.
Listen, there’s little doubt that both Kansas and Missouri have had amazing seasons. Who’d have thought they’d have three losses combined this season? No one did before the season started, that’s for sure.
But really, Kansas going to a BCS bowl instead of Missouri is further evidence that this entire system is flawed. Completely and totally screwed up.
Oh, did we mention that Missouri finished two spots ahead of Kansas in the final BCS standings.
You want more evidence?
Kansas had a strength of schedule that ranked 110th. By the way, there’s only 119 teams.
Missouri’s strength schedule ranked 46th.
Would someone please explain to me how this happens? Oh, that’s right. The way college football determines its biggest games is a joke. How can such a great sport have such a screwed up championship system? It is a complete and total mess.
Only 24 hours before Missouri got shafted by the bowls, the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the country. Now, they on the outside of the BCS bowls looking in. To twist the knife just a little more, both Kansas and Illinois are BCS bound.
Missouri’s situation is a travesty.
So is the bowl system.
