Overlooked by many this weekend was the passing of legendary basketball coach and civil rights pioneer Don Haskins. Haskins is never mentioned in the same breath as Martin Luther King or the like. But no single figure in the past 60+ years was more responsible for getting black athletes into college than Haskins. Though largely forgotten by many contemporary athletes (until Glory Road came out), he was still singled out for a thank you in airports and restaurants by those older athletes who knew what he had done.

Dan Wetzel (yahoo columnist) knew Haskins as well as any reporter and wrote a fantastic article about Haskins on Monday. Please take the time to read it. You won’t be disappointed.

Carry on, Citizens!

Tom Crean will be officially named head coach at IU tomorrow. Thus ends the circus that was the 2007-2008 season.  I’m thinking of writing a book on the whole thing, but I can’t decide if it should be a comedy or tragedy.  Documenting  the Kelvin Sampson era sounds like a fun book idea, but I need to finish Seven Dead Flamingos and a bunch of other book ideas.

Anyway, as an IU alum, I’m okay with this hire.  I know a few days ago I was advocating Dan Dakich, but I admit it was for more sentimental reasons than anything else.  I think Crean will bring class and dignity to the program. Also, I don’t think the recovery time is going to be as long as people think.  Only 2 of next year’s recruits opted out of their commitments and IU has an exceptional player committed for 2009.  Also, IU fans  might receive a surprise player commitment in the next few weeks.  Stay tuned for that!

Finally, I don’t think the sanctions by the NCAA will be too severe. Probably some recruiting restrictions and/or the loss of a scholarship.  Don’t look for a post season ban, since IU self reported and took measures against Sampson.  None of the violations rise to the level of Ohio State (paying a player), Purdue (student loan fraud), or Minnesota (academic fraud). None of those programs received post season bans.

Carry on, Citizens!

In one of the more hilarious moments of the college basketball season, Steve Bardo made the following quote about a Northwestern player that interned for Senator Barack Obama: “He’s really getting the most out of that opportunity. Barack is giving him the Full Monty.”

He said it during the IU/Northwestern game last night. We’re just not getting this kind of quality material on the Comedy Channel. It took me until the end of the first half to stop laughing.

Carry on, Citizens!

Let’s hope the Colts last longer after winning the Super Bowl than Barbaro did after winning the Kentucky Derby. I would hate to see this team implode after a few agents decide a Super Bowl Ring suddenly entitles their clients to new contracts. (See the ’90’s Dallas Cowboys for more info)

Dick Vitale continues to lobby for Indiana University to name the basketball arena after former coach Bob Knight. It’s bad enough when he’s calling an IU game, but I’m sick of hearing it during ACC, SEC, Big 12 and other games Dick calls. Dick, a university is NOT going to honor a guy that just sued it. I don’t care how many games or championships he has won. Get over it.

I’m sure when Knight retires there will eventually be some sort of recognition of his accomplishments. Until then, let it go, Vitale.

Trivia Question: I don’t know the answer to this, I just want to know if someone else does… Indiana has 3 former head coaches in the Basketball Hall of Fame: Everett Dean, Branch McCracken, and Bob Knight. Does any other school have 3 or more coaches?

Carry on, Citizens!