Beasley takes MVP, and Huskers gone off their rockers

K-State recruit Michael Beasley took MVP honors in last night's McDonald's All-America game. I tried to post some video, but I'm having trouble getting it right. Anyone who knows how to post videos from Youtube, please advise.

Anyway, Beasley scored 23 points on 10-13 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. That's the (really) good news. The bad news? He made a couple mistakes that led to bad turnovers. I shouldn't complain, the kid's a huge talent and is going to be great in purple next year. I just want to throw a word of caution all the fans who are predicting he'll be the next Kevin Durant. If you are predicting that, you don't realize how special Durant is. He's incredible, unbelievable, every adjective in the book. If Beasley is half that good (and by half, I mean a 15 points/8 boards kind of guy) he'll be a hell of a freshman. Between him, Walker and Hoskins, we'll have plenty of scoring punch. Throw in the experienced guard play of Clent Stewart and Blake Young, and the potential for a really good year is all there. Now, will Jason Bennett or Luis Colon put in the time this offseason to really step up? Our biggeset hole is in the middle, and if one of those guys becomes a serviceable big man, there's the CHANCE we could win the Big 12 (emphasize chance).

Anyway, I'm excited. It was great to have Beasley to watch last night and read and write about today considering there isn't much football news yet.

***

Before I start this section, a confession. I'm not a born-and-bred K-Stater. I'm a transplant. This next section should let you know where I came from.

This has been a loony week up in Lincoln, Nebraska. Last weekend, we had the Sam Keller saga, wherein he lost a parking spot to a girl, then attempted a crossing route with her car as the receiver and a plastic cup as the football. All in the middle of some apparently foul language. As I hear it, the charges will be dropped (although I don't have an official source for that).

Of course, Husker fans would have been thrilled if that was the worst news they faced this week. Running back Kenny Wilson somehow managed to break his femur while moving a TV (that must have been one big damn TV). That's really not good news for the Huskers, as they are starting to look awfully thin at running back. Brandon Jackson left for the NFL, Marlon Lucky spent some time in critical condition in the ICU this offseason, and now Wilson breaks the biggest bone in his body and is out for the year. It appears Cody Glenn is the only Husker running back to make it through the offseason healthy thus far.

Potentially worse news also broke yesterday, as starting cornerback Zac Bowman sustained a knee injury in practice yesterday. Apparently, it's not the knee he blew out last year, but today's reports indicate he'll be out 4.5-6 months. That means the earliest he could return is the middle of August, and he could be out until the end of September. That's bad news for a defensive secondary that, to put it mildly, wasn't particularly impressive last year.

But of course these days in Husker nation, it's never enough that there's controversy and bad things happening on the field. Hell no, just when you thought the Husker civil war (old school vs. new school) had subsided for a while, it rears its ugly head again. Apparently the athletic department will be host to its annual Lettermen's Tournament (golf) at Wilderness Ridge the day before the spring game this year. But now, another group associated with Husker football is holding a "reunion" tournament THE SAME DAY.

This wouldn't seem to be the end of the world except for two major things. The other tournament is called "Fun-The Original Husker Way." Umm, if you think that refers to anything other than Husker football pre-Steve Pederson and pre-Bill Callahan, you're probably dumber than the recliner I'm currently sitting on. But even better, I want to draw your attention to a single line from the story linked above...

"[Tom] Osborne said he didn't receive an invitation to the athletic department's event."

I've officially heard it all. I had to dig my feet into the scorching Houston dirt to see if I could feel the chill from hell freezing over. I'll be checking the news reports to see when Steve Pederson's ego breaks loose and leaves Lincoln in ruins.

We're talking about Tom fucking Osborne here. This guy takes a back seat to no one in Nebraska, God included (and God is a very important guy in NE). This guy won you people 2.5 national titles (or one and two halves, as AJ puts it). I know Democrats in Nebraska who switched their party affiliation to vote for Osborne (who makes Newt Gingrich look liberal) in the primaries. And now he's persona non grata at your AD's annual golf tournament? Mere words cannot describe my thoughts on this.

Is this a rebuke for Osborne because he is now a mentor at Creighton, who some Husker fans view as their evil in-state nemesis? Is there something deeper here? Is this the explanation for why Pederson can't raise enough money to pay for the sports complex that bears Osborne's name?

The split in the Cornhusker State has now manifested itself for all to see. I never thought I'd hear anyone (other than the few Nebraska Democrats) criticize Tom Osborne. That thought ended today when I cruised by this tidbit from a moderator at HuskersIllustrated.

Osborne needs to get out of the way. If he doesn't want his actions perceived as shots at the current athletic department, maybe he should quit taking obvious shots at them. It's plain hypocritical crap that says more about him than it does about the current administration.

Holy shit I don't know what to say. Can't wait to see how this story unfolds in the coming days.

My only complaint is that the competing tournament is at HiMark. Couldn't you get a better course?

***

Have a good weekend everyone. I'm getting on a jet plane to St. Louis tomorrow, so don't expect any updates before Sunday. I hope to have another K-State "week in review" post up Sunday night.