With a little more than a month left before the start of the NCAA Tournament it is becoming pretty clear who can and cannot be this years National Champions. In my mind there are 3 clear favorites and 3 other teams in the next tier, who with a good draw and some hot shooting can win it all. In reverse order they are:

The Second Three:

• West Virginia: The only real issue with West Virginia that lowers them from the second tier to the sleeper group is the play of the team’s point guards.  If Joe Mazzulla was healthy they would be a much more dangerous team but that he can barley lift his arm about his head makes him a very large offensive liability and starter Truck Bryant has not played well against ranked teams this year not playing very well against Villanova on Saturday and struggling until the end of the game against Syracuse a couple weeks ago. If Bryant can step up and Devin Ebanks can find the offensive game he had last year to compliment steady senior Da’sean Butler and sophomore Kevin Jones the sky is the limit with this team. What we do know is that like any Bob Huggins coached team WVU will play tough defense and crash the offensive boards hard.

• Purdue: I had Purdue ranked ahead of Michigan State even before tonight’s game started and at half time it looks like it should be that way as Purdue holds a 14 point halftime lead. The issues Purdue ran into early this year seem to have passed them by and they have the 4 ingrediants I believe any team that wants to win a title must have.  A solid point guard in E’Twaun  Moore, a solid shooter in Robbie Hummel, a big that can score in the paint in JaJuan Johnson, and multiple crunch time scorers, Hummel and Moore.  As long as Moore keeps shooting the ball as well as he has all year preventing teams from doubling the post on Johnson the Boilermakers look like they have righted the ship and will be the Final Four contender many predicted before the season.

• Villanova: While many people look at the Wildcats and see a national title contender, I am not so sure.  The lack of any real post presence on both the offensive and defensive ends scares me.  Corey Fisher and Scottie Reynolds are perhaps the best guard combo in the country but I see ‘Nova and only picture them trying to stop Cole Aldrich and my thoughts of them as a National Champion contender start to fade.

The Big Three:

• Kentucky:Now these Wildcats on the other hand can defiantly win the whole thing as long as Demarcus Cousins is able to keep his head on straight and the limelight does not bother the freshman that Kentucky rely so heavily upon.  If Pat Patterson can step up his game to the levels that he is capable of, and cut down on the three-point shots, it is hard to see a team that can beat Kentucky if John Wall, Cousins, and Patterson are all weapons.
• Syracuse: With the emergence of Wesley Johnson as a National Player of the Year candidate and the return of the disruption that a well-run Jim Boeheim 2-3 zone can cause after a couple years of subpar play the Orange are a solid group. What separates them from Kentucky though is the experience that they have as they start 2 seniors and 2 juniors. The Orange are a consistent group as well something that is keyed by the play of Andy Rautins who does all the little things that a team needs to win and is an absolute killer from the three point line. If Rautins gets hot and Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku stay out of foul trouble the Orange will be playing for a National Title.
• Kansas: The Jayhawks are the team to beat in my mind. Kansas has all 4 of the necessities I believe a team must have for a championship and in some cases have multiple players that fill the need.  Post scorers are easily found in Cole Aldrich and Marcus Morris, shooters in Brady Morningstar, Sherron Collins, and Xavier Henry who looks to be returning to form,  a more than solid point guard in superstar Collins and of course multiple crunch time scorers in Collins and Aldrich. As long as Kansas stays healthy they are my pick to be 2010 National Champions as I do not see a team in the land that I feel can play with a healthy Kansas team that seems to finally be playing at its highest level.

Rutgers women’s basketball coach Vivian Stringer was suspended one game by the University for violating an NCAA rule stating that team managers can’t participate in a team practice unless they are an eligible student athlete.

First off, what kind of stupid rule is that NCAA? Who cares? If some team manager for any college team in American is going to make your players better, than your program sucks. Second off, why couldn’t this be a rule in high school four years ago when Joe McElevin(or however you spell it) did a better acting job than Sean Penn in I Am Sam.

Losing a head coach for one game really isn’t a big deal, especially in women’s basketball where the isn’t much parity like in the men’s league. However, this is just another example of the NCAA enforcing terrible rules when the legit ones continue to be broken by power house Universities, who strangely win championships all the time because of it. One recent example, how the hell does Dez Bryant have to sit out the year and lose millions of dollars in draft money for eating lunch with Deion Sanders when Joe McKnight is driving around a car that USC obviously gave him, and nothing comes of it?

I love college sports, especially college basketball because it’s the one sport where I allow myself to root for a few different teams. These stupid rules and violations that randomly come up need to go though. I can’t stand how badly teams like USC, Ohio State, Michigan, and Memphis/Kentucky cheat. The NCAA needs to do a better job enforcing the rules that actually matter, in recruiting. If I see a few big schools lose scholarships and have recruiters, head coaches, and athletic directors suspended then I will shut my mouth forever about playoff systems and whatever other problems I have with the NCAA, forever.

The Bishop of Kentucky has directed his clergy to affirm the moral goodness and integrity of the homosexual lifestyle, but has stopped short of authorizing public rites for same-sex blessings.

On Jan 22 Bishop Ted Gulick wrote to his clergy, permitting private rites for same-sex blessings. Bishop Gulick, who is scheduled to retire this year, stated that in light of the 2009 Episcopal Church’s General Convention resolutions ending the moratoriums on gay bishops and blessings “the clergy are obligated to offer pastoral care and support to individual gay and lesbian parishioners.”

This pastoral care includes offering homosexuals “care and support that nurtures their covenant partnerships” he said.

As Kentucky law did not permit gay marriage and same-sex marriage rites had yet to be included in the Book of Common Prayer, the bishop stated he would not authorize public rites for same-sex blessings.

However, “if the conscience of the ordained minister allows, private liturgies of blessing and support and public services of the Eucharist in thanksgiving for the covenanted, lifelong, monogamous realities of these committed relationships can be held in the churches of our diocese,” Bishop Gulick wrote.

It would be prudent to wait until a majority of Episcopalians supported gay marriage before such rites were placed “front and center in our liturgical life, since our liturgical life is our bottom line of theological belief. In other words, the altars of our church are to be ‘issue free zones’,” the bishop explained.

Conservative leaders in the US were quick to denounce Bishop Gulick’s letter obligating the clergy to support the gay agenda, arguing that he had turned the tables on traditional sexual morals and that what was once considered sin was now considered a virtue in Kentucky.

“The Christian Church needs leaders who communicate honestly and clearly,” Bishop David Anderson of the American Anglican Council told The Church of England Newspaper, noting the Kentucky statement was disingenuous.

“Claiming that it is ok to have a same sex blessing as long as it is in private and behind closed doors displays a gross misunderstanding of Church tradition, the nature of sacraments, the Book of Common Prayer and Christianity in general,” Bishop Anderson said.

Number one pick

Tonight my beloved Wildcats take on the Crimson Tide from Alabama. The national champs in football are rebuilding on the basketball side with new coach Anthony Grant. For those of you who don’t know Grant, he came from VCU who upset Duke with Eric Maynor a few years back in the tournament.

Before VCU, Grant was at Florida as Billy Donovan’s assistant and was suppose to be Florida’s new coach when Donovan went to the Orlando Magic for a tenure of two days.

Grant will have Bama competitive in the SEC West in a few years, but not this year. Kentucky will crush the Tide especially since the game is at home. Kentucky is not going to lose at home this season plain and simple.

I expect a huge game from Demarcus Cousins tonight, probably 25 and 14 with 3 swats, however I expect Bledsoe, also a Alabama native, to struggle by trying to do too much. He will probably have five turnovers, eight points, three assists.

But his performance will matter not as P-Pat will do his thing, while the Great Wall of Kentucky further makes his case for player of the year. Kentucky will improve to 23-1 on the year with a 83-60 victory as they get ready for their showdown with Tennessee on Saturday when College Gameday comes to town.

Oh for my other picks for the night; I’m taking Vandy by 9 and the Spartans by 7.

St. John Center is a local charity that helps homeless men transition into permanent housing by treating the underlying causes of homelessness, including drug addiction and mental illness. Each year the Center organizers hold a “Raisin’ the Rent” party to help raise funds for the program. It’s especially important this year, when more people are finding themselves homeless due to unemployment and charities are struggling to meet the needs of the community. This year’s party, on March 6, has a 1920’s theme. It’s $25 and there will be food, games, drinks and a silent auction. I hope you’ll consider attending! (Do you recognize the model?)

Here’s the ticket design for the event.

This is my first blog post on Franchise Notes!

Driving from Lexington, Kentucky to Boca Raton, Florida this weekend I could not help but consider the profound impact franchising has on our economy. Every billboard and exit ramp sign seemed to display the name and/or logo of a franchise system.

I have read statistics, primarily from the International Franchise Association (IFA), regarding the lower failure rate of franchised businesses versus independent businesses. I wonder if there are any studies to determine if the disparity in failure rates increases or dcreases during a recession. My intuition tells me that a franchise system will fare even better during a recession than independent businesses. Presumably, the franchised business has better systems in place to weather the economic storm. And the franchise system has a franchisor and a group of franchisees that can collaborate on methods to reduce costs and increase revenues. On the other hand, an independent business may have more flexibility on how to adapt to the changing economic environment.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this issue?

How has your franchised business or independent businesses adapted to the recession? Would the result have been the same if you were in the other category?

I taught my first Junior Achievement class about 18 months ago at an inner-city urban high school by the name of Central.  The memories of my first day walking into that classroom will never leave my mind.  I have to admit, I was definitely out of my comfort zone.  Thankfully I knew one of the teachers from back in the day and he was a huge help with getting me the respect I needed to lead the class for eight weeks.  Since that first class I’ve taught at the Jr. Achievement Center a couple of times and led other classes.  I love being in front of the room with all the young people, hopefully sharing something with them that will “stick” throughout their lives.  The most enjoyable experience I’ve had has been with Barbara Sauer’s 5th grade class at Northaven Elementary.  For some reason, we just clicked, especially with each passing week.  The Kentuckiana JA is a wonderful organization based very close to Downtown Louisville.  The organization serves educational needs about financial responsibility, entrepreneurship and small business to over 44,000 children over 26 counties.  They’re always looking for volunteers to assist with workshops, classes and sometimes at the James Robinson’s JA Center for Freedom of Enterprise.  They can be found online at www.jaky.org.  I challenge everyone who wants to teach to contact JA and see what you can do to assist them with spreading their very unique message.

Interesting fact…JA Worldwide was founded in 1919 by Theodore Vail, president of American Telephone & Telegraph; Horace Moses, president of Strathmore Paper Co.; and Senator Murray Crane of Massachusetts. Its first program, JA Company Program, was offered to high school students on an after-school basis.

Perkfection coffee shop located on the corner of Spring Street and East Maple in the downtown shopping district of Jeffersonville, Indiana.  One of the cool things about the entire Louisville area is all the coffee shops, all of them independent locally owned and operated.  A favorite thing of mine to do is get a hot mocha, grab my favorite newspaper or magazine and settle down into a comfortable leather chair.  I spend half my time reading my periodical of choice and the other half watching people come and go throughout the day.

Interesting fact…A number of well-known performers like Joan Baez and Bob Dylan began their careers performing in coffeehouses.

Good Evening Ladies & Gents! Tonight We Focus On A Place That’s Offering Shelter To Not Only The Homeless, But Rather To Those In Situations That Might Harmful To Themselves Or Even Others. Tonight We Are Going To Feature Compass House. Under The Direction Of Sylvia Nadler, Compass House Goes Beyond The Generic Definition Of Homelessness And Provides Opportunity To Those Who May Be Less Fortunate. Sometimes When We’re Going To And From Work We See The Man Playing His Guitar Or The Woman Walking With A Crutch, But Rarely Do We See A Child From An Unbearable Broken Home, Or A Child Literally Left For Dead By Unwanting Parents. For Those Children There Is A New Ray Of Hope And That Is The Compass House. The Compass House Is Located At 370 Linwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209. They Can Be Reached By Phone (If During A Crisis) At: (716) 886-0935. If Calling During Normal Business Hours They Can Be Reached By (716) 886-1351.

“Safe Place began in Louisville, Kentucky in 1983 as an outreach effort of the YMCA Center for Youth Alternatives. The Safe Place program began in response to the many calls to the shelter from young people who did not have a way to get there. As a result, many youth trying to cope with personal or family crisis situations never reached the shelter. To address this issue, Project Safe Place was developed, designating businesses and community buildings as locations where youth could easily access help. Its’ success has prompted the implementation of this youth shelter outreach program in 714 communities throughout the United States“. – From Their Website – http://www.compasshouse.org

By Jack Scheuer

I still think, all things considered, Kansas is the best team in the nation.  Outstanding point guard and center, depth, size, play tough defense and well-coached.  If I had to pick the national champion, it’s the Jayhawks.
How about a true All-America team, with players 6-foot or under: Devan Downey, South Carolina; Kalin Lucas, Michigan State; Sharron Collins, Kansas; Ronald Moore, Siena, and Scottie Reynolds, Villanova.  Reynolds is listed as 6-2, but that’s a stretch, literally.

Siena’s Ronald Moore might be the best point guard in the country.  He is just a blur with the ball, but  stays under control. That is a team that will be a tough out in the NCAA’s.  Coach Fran McCaffery is finally getting some well-deserved ink.  Is Rutgers his next stop?

Steve Donahue at Cornell is another hot coach.  It is about time he got noticed. His best player, Ryan Wittman has a shot at being the first Ivy Leaguer to play in the NBA since Jerome Allen and Matt  Maloney.  It is amazing how much he looks  and shoots like his Dad, Randy.

There’s no question John Wall is very talented, but aren’t some people going overboard on the Kentucky freshman?  He’s had too many so-so games to be compared to LeBron James, as one ” expert” opined.  Teammate center DeMarcus Cousins  has been equally effective without the hype.

Syracuse’s zone seems to than ever this  year probably because of the great length of the team.  The smallest starter is 6-5 , and 6-7 Wes Johnson teams up with the 2 big guys to  really make it difficult to get an offense working.  Everybody knows they’re going to see it, but exploiting it is another thing.

Finally, a suggestion to coaches: Stop saying “we weren’t ready to play,” after a loss.  Who’s fault would that be?

Note:
Jack Scheuer is a writer for the Associated Press and a member of the Philadelphia Big Five Hall of Fame,

This morning our Chairman and Vice Chairman had the opportunity to speak with a local radio talk show regarding the Senate Forum scheduled for this Saturday.  Check out the link below to listen to the interview in its entirety.  We would like to say a big THANK YOU to Greg Dunker and the entire team at WKYX 94.3 Talk Radio!  We hope to see each of you at the Kentucky US Senate Republican Candidate Forum.  The forum is scheduled to take place this Saturday, in Paducah, KY at 12:30 p.m. CST.  The venue is Paducah Tilghman Auditorium, 2400 Washington St.  A map is available by clicking HERE.

http://www.westkentuckystar.com/Multimedia/Podcasts/The-Greg-Dunker-Show/G-O-P–Senate-Forum-Coming

It’s getting down to the real season in college basketball.  Everyone knows that February is one of the most important times for teams to show what they’re made of.  ”Rivalry Week” is this week, and it looks to be quite an exciting week for college basketball fans.  Now, onto the preview.

Recap of Last Week

Another mixed bag of results for me from last week.  I incorrectly predicted the Wisconsin-Michigan State game, as the Badgers pummeled the Spartans on their home court.  I predicted my other Big Matchup game correctly however.  Duke upended Iman Shumpert and Georgia Tech, and got the win at home by 19 points.

My Top 25 didn’t fare so well.  2 of my Top 5 teams fell to upsets (Villanova and Michigan State) and there will definitely be some major changes for this week’s rankings.  Now on with this week’s preview.

My Top 25

1. Kansas- After an early-week scare against Colorado, the Jayhawks came back and won with authority.  Kansas retains their #1 position.

2. Syracuse- The Orange are still looking great, with only one loss and a 9-1 record in the Big East.  With the Villanova loss to Georgetown, Syracuse can challenge the Wildcats for the top spot in the Big East.

3. Kentucky- The Wildcats are a close 3rd, and their young team is playing like seasoned basketball players.  It looks like they’ll run away with the SEC.

4. Villanova- The Wildcats lost to a tough Georgetown Hoyas team this week, and they got blown out.  But Georgetown is a major contender, and they’re on a

Scottie Reynolds and Villanova suffered their first in-conference loss against Georgetown last week.

hot streak.  So Villanova only drops to #4.

5. West Virginia- The Mountaineers just continue to win.  They are another one of the numerous elite teams in the Big East this year.

6. Georgetown

7. Purdue

8. Duke

9. Kansas State

10. Wisconsin

11. Michigan State

12. Texas

13. Tennessee

14. Ohio State

15. Gonzaga

16. New Mexico

17. BYU

18. Butler

19. Georgia Tech

20. Northern Iowa

21. Baylor

22. Wake Forest

23. Temple

24.Wake Forest

25. UNLV

Big Matchups

Duke vs. North Carolina (February 10 9:00 pm)

The biggest rivalry in college sports is renewed on Wednesday ad Duke will clash with North Carolina in Chapel Hill.  The game may be a little bit

Kyle Singler has been heating up from the field for the Blue Devils.

lackluster this year with UNC unranked, but it’s still a Duke-UNC game.  UNC will play to their best ability to avoid a 3 game losing streak, but in the end I think Duke will take this one.

West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh (February 12th 9:00 pm)

West Virginia will look to continue to push towards the top of the Big East standings, while Pitt will look to get another upset.  West Virginia is just too good, and I think they’ll win this game by around 10 points.

Thanks for reading!

Posted by Ben

We have documented the cost issues from an independent perspective that is not “soft on crime” or “tough on crime.” We are approaching the issues from a financial perspective and pointing out that we simply can’t afford to lock up every offender. In order to get this message across, we have provided testimony to our legislative committees, appeared in statewide television forums and traveled the state to share our message with local chambers and civic clubs. We’ve offered to partner with our legislators to make common-sense changes to our policies to ensure public safety and save millions being spent on corrections.

– Dave Adkisson, President and CEO, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. From the Pew Center on the States report, Right-sizing Prisons: Business Leaders Make the Case for Corrections Reform (January 2010).

I just woke up and realized a lot of different things. Like If I moved to Kentucky I’d be more central and therefore cheaper to fly anywhere in the US….. I think. My friend Bob lives down there and that is what made me think about it. Also I realized that if you don’t have a place of your own and you go to visit people they expect you to clean their houses alot and I don’t think that is right because I don’t have a house they can come help me clean. I really need my own place. And we are going to have lots of cleaning parties! I’ll invite a slumber party of friends and we can get smashed and eat alot and watch movies and snuggle, but when we wake up!!! IT’S CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!!! Anyway, I just woke up, not entirely in my right mind, but yeah, I’m having fun. HUG

Right now we stand about a month away from March Madness and that means that these next few weeks will be key to teams like My Hokies, Who are on the Bubble, The Kentucky Wildcats, Who are fighting for that number 1 seed category come tourney time, And probably the biggest letdown of the season thus far, The UNC Tarheels. Who are fighting for the highest seed that they can get. But before we get into March Madness we get a little treat known as Rivalry Week!!  This jam-packed week of College Hoops action kicks off tonight on ESPN at 7 pm with Nova at WVU  here is your week schedule of games:

Big Monday

• Kicking off the week the 2nd ranked Villanova Wildcats  heading into the rowdiest and literally most hostile bunch of hillbillies in Morgan town,West Virginia  which also has the highest acceptance out of all other D-1 schools. Nova is still in GA GA land after they got a sick reality check in DC but I like the Wildcats in this one look for a big night from Scotty Reynolds.

• The other match up has huge implications on the Big 12 with number 10 Texas traveling up north to Lawrence ,Ks to  take on the top ranked Kansas Jayhawks who like Villanova have streaky feel of a loss coming up at any point.   The Horns will Hook ‘Em with help from Damion James and his 29.4 pts a game.

Damion James

SUPER TUESDAY

• In the Big 10 like the hot  7th Purdue Boilermakers going in to face Tom Izzo and the recently stunned number 5  Michigan State Spartans. Without star guard Kalin Lucas the Spartans may have a bit of trouble by on their hands when E’Twaun Moore and Robbie Hummel step on to the court up in East Lansing. I really like the offense that the Boilermakers bring to the table. Look for some upsetting expressions during the white out at MSU.

Robbie Hummel and JaJuan Johnson

• Now to the SEC Where Bruce Pearl and the 14th ranked Vols take on hated instate private school 20th ranked Vanderbilt. The Volunteers haven’t lived up to their expectations coming into this season but are still ranked in the 20 and will have a place waiting come tournament time. On the other side Vandy will try to use the home court in Nashville to their advantage and the Commodores will prevail with the help Jermaine Beal and his 31 pts a game

WACKY WEDNESDAY

• 1st on Wednesday the day of the disappointments begins with UCONN taking on number 5 Syracuse who has just been ELECTRIC thus far. The Huskies have struggled severely with a record of 14- 9 nothing like the UCONN teams of the Past. THEY ARE RANKED 11TH…11TH in the Big East!!!! On the other hand Syracuse is a potential Final Four pick and are tearing it up with junior Forward, Wesley Johnson who leads his team in boards and points per game. I look for UCONN’ s miserable season to continue with a blowout in the Carrier Dome.

Wesley Johnson

• In the primetime slot another dismal vs highly ranked rivalry will take place when Kyle Singler and the 9th ranked Duke Bluedevils travel into Chapel Hill to battle with the terrible North Carolina Tarheels. This rivalry is one of the fiercest in all of sports and will never disappoint no matter how bad the two teams are. Right?…. Until this year!! Duke is going to destroy the tarheels in momentum, rebounding , tempo and most of all on the scoreboard. 
  

FANTASTIC FRIDAY

• West Virginia and Pittsburgh…. A brawl waiting to happen if you ask me!! The Mountaineers who host Nova earlier in the week will look to crush the longtime rival Pitt Panthers. The game will be played in Pittsburgh so there is a slight edge there but in the end as much as I hate to say it… Tho Mountaineers should have no problem with a less talented Pittsburgh Squad.

PHYSCOTIC  SATURDAY

• In the SEC Tennessee looks to stick with number 3 Kentucky and Diaper Dandy John Wall who will likely be one and done after this season. The Vols have a test in Nashville that they must ACE before having a chance in Wildcat Country. I think they pass their exam earlier in the week but have an epic failure when they step foot in the arena this Saturday

John Wall

Enjoy this rivalry week in College hoops it shouldn’t dissapoint!!! Peace Out

Tough week last week-I went 6-5 with major disappointments by Vandy and also by South Carolina.  The SEC eastern division is tough and Arkansas has risen from the ashes to take the lead in the west.

I have predicted 33 out of 51 correctly for the year and need a good week this week to be respectable.

Many great games this week with UT doing the Vandy and Kentucky gauntlet, both on the road.

Here are my predictions!

Sgt. Nick Anglin, a member of the 138th Signal Company, prepares the Command Post Node (CPN), which handles both the Siprnet and the Niprnet, for transmittal on February 6th 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michelle Waters, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Soldiers assigned to the Kentucky National Guard’s 138^th Signal Company trained with the new Warfighter Information Network Tactical system at the Lexington Armory Feb. 6.

Comprised of satellites, self-contained generators, computers and other high-tech equipment, the $2 million WIN-T system is coined as the Army’s “on-the-move, high-speed, high-capacity backbone communications network,” according to General Dynamics, the company that makes the WIN-T.

“It’s so new that we don’t even have an SOP for it,” said 1^st Lt. Elizabeth Chamberlin, executive officer of the 138^th Signal Company. “We’re basically paving the way with this system.”

The WIN-T provides Soldiers in the field with communications capabilities anywhere in the world. On the battlefield, troops can use the system to link with the Global Information Grid to relay and receive information from higher headquarters.

It allows for internet access, providing Soldiers the ability to send and receive voice, data, video and images across a multi-node, or networked force – all in real time.

“Before the WIN-T, we were still heavily relying on SINCGARS, so it’s a giant leap to be able go from tactical radio traffic to sending emails out in the field. It’s truly very exciting” Chamberlin said.

In the Commonwealth, Soldiers can rapidly mobilize and utilize the equipment during emergencies and disasters similar to the Ice Storm of 2009. Relying on generators and satellites, the system can provide communications when power and grids are down.

I have already introduced the races where there is a Democrat retiring.  This morning I’ll introduce the retiring Republican seats.

There are 5, 1 more than retiring Democrats.  [Technically they count the MA Senate race as a retirement, but since it has already been run and won, I won't be counting that here].

The retiring seats make me nervous and excited at the same time.  On the one hand, it’s an awesome opportunity to get someone new in the seat.  On the other, there is a real chance the Dems could use the opportunity and take a seat away.  In any event, the Repubs have 5 open seats:

This looks good, but I see some ares of concern.  Missouri is one of them.  The Democrat, Carnahan, has been leading since early last year.  However, with the tide turning against the Democrats we have seen a resurgence in the popularity of Blunt.  If the Democrats remain tone deaf and continue to stay Left, the seat should stay red.  If however, the Tea Party movement falters and make mistakes [entirely possible] OR if the Democrats wise up and become more inclusive, we could see the tide reverse itself and see public support slide back towards Carnahan.  The other seats should be safe.  Kansas is so safe, in fact, that few polls even bother to watch the race.

So, let’s say that we win 4 and lose 1; maybe Missouri.  With my expected results from the Democrat’s retiring Senators leaving us at D-56 and R-44, this election gives the Dems a seat.

D-57 and R-43

Champ Ligon, who rebuilt Bryan Station’s boys’ basketball program into a state power, will step down as the Defenders’ coach at the end of this season.

He submitted a letter of resignation to Principal Gladys Peoples on Saturday. Read the full story

Guess that’s more than the administration of Bryan Station can claim! They are so inept they can’t distinguish good shit from apple-butter. Although in Ligon’s case, it may have been inevitable, because principal Peoples tried to fire him in 07, but had to hire him back when the community outcry could be heard all the way downtown. Looks like she still ain’t over that embarrassment … well, maybe now she is since she got what she was shooting for then.

I just hope the community will step up again, only this time the repercussions are not just that Ligon will take the job back, but she and her buddy Barnes get the boot!!!

The Hill

The Senate Republican primary in Kentucky has emerged as a proxy battle between two leaders of the factionalized Republican Party, Sarah Palin and Mitch McConnell.

At stake is the direction of the Republican Party, which Republican leaders in Washington fear could turn off middle-of-the road voters if it lurches too far to the right.

Since being tapped as the GOP’s vice-presidential nominee in 2008, Palin has emerged a leader of independent and social conservatives.

McConnell (Ky.), the Senate Republican leader, has cemented his leadership of the party establishment in Washington over the past year by unifying Senate Republicans against President Barack Obama’s agenda.

But McConnell and other veteran Republican lawmakers have a delicate relationship with many conservatives now lining up behind Palin and the Tea Party because of how federal spending swelled under GOP rule.

The growing activism of conservatives around the country, including many longtime members of the Republican grassroots, has helped energize the Republican Party, such as in Massachusetts. But the indifference or opposition of Tea Party activists to candidates favored by Republican leaders threatens to upset the GOP’s carefully crafted political strategy.

Complete Story:

I don’t want to be regretting this post after today’s game, but as long as Syracuse beats Cincinnati on Sunday, we deserve to be number one in the land. Not that rankings mater, but they do to me just to show everyone how wrong they are and how good ‘Cuse really is.

For everyone who thinks their team is the best…you’re wrong. No one tops Syracuse. Kansas? Please. Not when you can barely put away easy teams. Nova? You just lost to a team we killed. Georgetown? You lost to USF and Old Dominion! Kentucky? Come one. We all know this isn’t the SEC of football.

But if Kansas must be number one, we’ll take number two. You know how it goes. First is the worst, second is the best. Unless Syracuse is first. Then it reverses.