Congratulations guys! According to a new blog rater, SportsPoliticsBeer is officially rated G based on the language used. This may make some of you happy, but I am somewhat disappointed. In a blog where the title includes two subjects that could cause some stir, we can't even pull of a PG rating? I think we might need to spice it up a bit.

Bill Maher on Iraq

The analogy in the last 30 seconds in priceless. Sometimes you just need to pull out.

CBS Sportsline Debuts Top 25 for this year

Marquette is at #10.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10229862

Other Big East schools include #5 Louisville, #8 Georgetown, #12 Villanova, and #24 Pitt.

We'll probably split with L'Ville like we have for the last 5 years. It's Georgetown that worries me the most. Everyone knows Hibbert will go for at least 30 points and 15 rebounds whenever we see them, and look really ugly doing it. Hopefully we only play them once.

We can take Villanova. Reynolds will drop 40 on everyone else but we have a McSteal to put on him.

I'm suprised that Syracuse isn't ranked or even UConn for that matter. UConn didn't lose anyone of signifance, and Syracuse had a Top 5 recruiting class to complete one of the top badasses in the Big East: Eric Devendorf.

Get used to it: Predictable coverage of MU b-ball

Despite the annoyances of certain message board members (or...should I write...annoyances...of certain...) I get more information from the MU message boards than from any journalistic enterprise. Rosiak at the JS is good, but he basically just relays and confirms information. There is never ANY in-depth discussion of rotations, break-down of plays (HELLO DJ's three at Valpo), or really in-depth breakdowns of opposing teams.

And to think, he's the best.

MU is returning it's top 8 players from last year, so expect more of the same lazy journalism from those across the nation. It's already starting. Andy Katz on MU's team this year:

James' return means the Eagles' four guards -- James, Jerel McNeal, Wesley Matthews and David Cubillan -- are all back to cause havoc in the league. The key will be the continued development of forwards Ousmane Barro, Dan Fitzgerald and Lazar Hayward.

...With a loaded slate of home games the Eagles look ready to repeat last season's success and weakness -- tough to guard off the dribble and able to defend, but still looking for that consistent play in the post.

You mean to say MU will have good guards with questionable play in the post???

YAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.

Be prepared to see that same article re-written about 500 times this year. But don't worry, I'll be spending an inordinate amount of time discussing each minute aspect of the game. The way it should be.

God Given Talent To Return

Hello Everyone.

I am glad to finally be a part of the blog. I thought I would make my first post about something near and dear to all of our hearts (and beer bellies), MU Basketball. I read today that Dominic James has pulled his name from the NBA draft. We have discussed this occurrence before with I think the final consensus being that we did not need James back on this years up coming team. However, my perspective is this, hopefully the, not so stellar, reaction from NBA teams will tell something to James, that he needs to improve. I heard on the news that he actually tested as the third best athlete at the pre-draft camp (testing things like vertical jump, full court sprint, etc.), so he is full of athleticism, I just think he needs to build his game knowledge and an appropriate level of game time cockiness. So, I'm thinking he will return with new motivation and a desire to be a better leader. What are your positions on Jame's almost certain return?

Certainly the best campaign video I've ever seen

Can't wait to see McCain's...

http://www.barelypolitical.com/

or here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKsoXHYICqU

Your favorite Marquette player of all time

Please post with your favorite MU bball player of all time. There are obviously the classics like Bo Ellis, Doc Rivers, Earl 'mini-bobble head' Tatum, Butch Lee, Rob Jackson, Scott Merritt, Cordell Henry, DWade, Diener, James, McNeal, Novak... just to give you a few options.

For me, my favorite player, and who I think was the best player to wear a MU uniform is Travis Diener. Those knowledgable about the famed 2003 Final Four run will remember Diener was the only reason we made it out of the FIRST ROUND. Before breaking his thumb in a "drill" (although everyone seems to know the real story by now) he would have led MU to another tourney appearance his senior year.

No one has ever played with the grit, tenacity and leadership Diener did. Crean spoke to my Sports class this past year and told a story about how Diener was the only one with the testicular fortitude to question or critize DWade, something that helped both of their games tremendously.

When I see video of Diener hitting a big-time three and raising his arm and showing three fingers, I get chills.

Plus his game is just like mine, except he's way better at everything.

DJames to decide in next few days

Via JS beat writer Todd Rosiak: http://www.jsonline.com/blog/?id=308

I found this bit particulary interesting: Considering James hasn't yet hired an agent, turned in a subpar performance at the NBA pre-draft camp and has conducted just one abbreviated individual workout for an NBA team, all signs would seem to point to his returning to MU for his junior season.

At first DJ said he would only go pro if he was going to go in the first round. Then it was the second round with a guaranteed contract (good luck there). Now it's just some hope of going in the second round.

I'm still split on whether it would be good for MU. Obviously he's a talented player, but he only utilizes it sometimes. He shot us out of a few games. Luckily at Pitt he had "ice water in my mind" to hit those free throws.

In conclusion: Why couldn't the Diener's have had more kids?

Unedited 'Superbad' Trailer

This is a college classic in waiting. Can I still enjoy it now that I'm out of college. Well, I re-watched 'Anchorman' for the 92nd time and it was still funny. So, yes.

Daily Show on Republican Debate

The only thing worse than Islamic terrorists? Gays in the military, stopping them.

The second half of this is must see TV.

The Third Republican Debate

It's going to be a full six weeks before the next one -- I may go into debate withdrawal. I can't stop watching them. Sorry I forgot to post on Sunday's Democratic debate, maybe I'll get around to that. But it's just not as entertaining. My favorite Republicans are Ron Paul and John McCain, and they consistently do the best. Although I disagree with McCain on the war, he is very heartfelt and legitimate. I also appreciate Paul's strict reading of the Constitution - we wants less government and less nation-building. Good ideas. Rudy continues to say "If you don't vote for me, the terrorists win."

Here's a breakdown of Rudy from HuffPo. I couldn't write it any better myself.

"By contrast, Rudy Giuliani seemed a tad unhinged. He tried to have it both ways when it came to terror and national security, claiming on one hand that the sacrifice of American lives in Iraq 'is one of the reasons we're safe now in the United States,' while on the other hand repeatedly raising the specter of Islamic terrorists who will do us all in if we don't put him in the White House."

McCain from HuffPo:

"This was vintage McCain. Perhaps energized by being in New Hampshire, home of his greatest political triumph in 2000, he provided the two most emotional moments of the night. The first came in his response to a question asked by Erin Flanagan, whose younger brother had been killed in Iraq eight days before he was scheduled to return home in December 2005.

McCain rose from his chair and, his voice choked with emotion, thanked her for her brother's service and offered 'a little straight talk' on the war, which he said had been 'badly mismanaged for a long time,' leading to 'unnecessary' deaths."

Fox News with a debate debate overview:

"The 10 candidates yielded Bush no quarter during a spirited two-hour debate Tuesday night, as they contrasted their positions on a host of issues with those of the unpopular president.

"It's a typical Washington mess," former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said of the immigration bill Bush wants Congress to approve.

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas said: "The president ran on a program of a humble foreign policy, no nation-building and no policing of the world, and he changed his tune."

"I think we were underprepared and underplanned for what came after we knocked down Saddam Hussein," former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said on the topic of Iraq.

"I never heard such a piling on of a sitting president who's of the same party," said Linda Fowler, a government professor at Dartmouth College. "They were as tough on him as the Democrats were."

Fowler attributed the criticism not just to polls, which show the president's popularity mired at 35 percent, but a recognition within the GOP that it must redefine itself if it is to avoid a clean sweep from power in 18 months.

"When parties are struggling with their identity, there is an attempt to go back to first principles, so in many ways, the most striking criticism was not just that the war had been handled incompetently, but that the party principles had been abandoned. That's the first step in positioning one's self to be the `true Republican,"' Fowler said.

Republican Battle Round 1: Ron vs. Rudy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhjfuBYw8Ko