Big weekend in Columbia. Saturday night Gary Pinklel will be on the sidelines as head coach of the Missouri Tigers for the last time in a home game. He is a good man and will be missed although it's my understanding he will be staying on in some capacity. I wish him well obviously with his battle ahead with the cancer. Thankfully it's not the death sentence it once was. There were times when you were diagnosed it was lights out, just a matter of how long. I will admit I had a tougher time than most when Pinkel was hired here. I was a friend of his predecessor Larry Smith. One of the finest men I've ever known. Actually had a heated phone conversation I'll never forget on my car phone with the then AD Mike Alden. But, as I watched Pinkel through the years I came to respect his consistent, solid approach. And his unwavering stance on team rules, regardless of the stature of the player involved. Oh, and he rides a harley like I do, so that didn't hurt. It will be interesting to see how it goes for him and the club saturday night with a good Tennessee team coming to town. The last time the Vol's were here the Tigers blew them out 31-3 so there will be some payback on the agenda for the Vol's.
One other Mizzou note. I cannot recall in my lifetime where there was less anticipation for the mens basketball team here. Pretty sad. But, with that being said the team looks pretty good. Some people would skoff at that notion but you have to understand just how low things had gotten around here. Kim Anderson is a fine man, and a capable coach. He is an ex Tiger and everyone around here respects him. With that being said the majority of folks feel he is in over his ski's. But they are 2-1 and trailed Xavier on their floor by only a point at the break. Baby step, that's all we can ask, baby steps. They do play Kansas State in Kansas City next week at the Sprint Center and I am very curious to see that game. I think Mizzou will give the Cat's more than they bargained for.
Big weekend for the local Chiefs fans. Suddenly the fan base is talking playoffs again and they are already chalking up a win this sunday in San Diego. I am keeping my mouth shut because I have a strong hunch the Chiefs might get blindsided out there. I think too much stock is being put into their beating up Denver last week with an obviously hobbled Manning under center. I hope I am wrong but I think the Chargers will make them labor hard. Not sure that KC is deserving of laying points on the road in a divisional game. We'll see. On the flip side the Rams play at Baltimore and need to bounce back from the pathetic effort sunday in the dome against the Bears. QB change and that kind of threw everyone.
That was about it for this morning. Except the mentioning of the Warriors who came from 23 down to win by 7 against the Clippers in their house. My son in law was at the game and he said the Warriors just sucked the oxygen right out of the fans. What a humiliating loss for Los Angeles. The Warriors now OWN that team, period.
Lot's going on this weekend. Hope everyone has a good one.