TxHoops

This seems to be part of the whole "culture" stigma that has surrounded the University.  I am as guilty as anyone; I pay for my seats at DKR each year, and I don't really like standing up for the whole darn game.  I think the stadium can be as loud as any and have heard it get that way many, many times.  Much more important is the culture surrounding the team.  I don't believe that can be changed overnight.  However, I will say that based on the steps and rules he has implemented, Coach Strong is doing his best to do just that.  I think you see a different level of toughness from the start next year.  And 3-4 years from now you may just see the meanest group of Horns that have taken the field in a long, long time.

  Seriously, maybe even more amazing than Manziel's athleticism is how on earth a kid with hands and feet that big only grew to be 5'11".   Someone should do a medical study on the kid.  There was some serious growth-stunting going on with him somewhere along the way.

The Defenders/Texas Ball Hawks will be holding open tryouts this Sunday, February 23, at St Anthony's school at 850 Forsythe St, Beaumont. Come have your son tryout for a chance to be a part of the Under Armour sponsored basketball organization, the only program in Southeast Texas that is sponsored by a shoe company. The times for each age group will be as follows: 7th grade (13u) and 8th grade (14u) groups - 1 pm to 2 pm. 9th grade (15u) and 10th grade (16u) - 2 pm to 3:30 pm. 11th grade (17u) - 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. All are welcome at tryouts. This program is designed to develop your son's game to its highest potential, while showcasing his skills at some of the top tournaments around the country.

Ouch!  But on point...

  I don't think most Aggies (at least the ones I talk to regularly) like the governor any more than the rest of us.

  Agreed.  Except you could make an argument to substitute "any" for "much" in your last sentence.

  This is almost all correct.  Except for the last sentence.  You actually can get a deferred adjudication with a conviction; however, it almost never happens.  It gets confusing but once you have a conviction, you are not "eligible" for probation.  This means a jury, if you are subsequently convicted of another crime, cannot give you probation, deferred or otherwise.  A judge still has this option though in sentencing.  Basically, a judge has authority to do what he believes is in the best interests of justice.  Again, very unlikely you would get deferred though with a previous conviction.  By the way, prosecutors, depending on the offense, often prefer deferred because is an offender messes up on their probation, they still have the full range of punishment on the original offense, which you don't with what we call "straight probation." 

Not chump change. Good for Mack. I wonder if he is content to ride away or if he still really wants to coach as he said? I don't think he would have a problem getting a job in a bcs conference.

I don't think calling a team out BEFORE the draft (saying if they pick someone else, it will be the biggest mistake they've ever made) will endear yourself to that franchise. Moreover, it reinforces the stigma of lack of maturity and poor decision making. At some point, this kid has to grow up or start listening to people who are trying to help him. I really hope he does. He is supremely talented and don't want him pissing a promising career away.

Fact of the matter is, there are laws in effect that allow one time offenders all the rights the rest of us have.  Depending on the severity of the crime, most felonies, at least in Texas, allow for "deferred adjudication" which is basically probation which, if successfully completed (i.e., you keep your nose clean) keeps a conviction off your record.  Then you can vote, own a firearm, etc.  Further, we now have a law whereby although this arrest and probation isn't removed from your record for law enforcement purposes, you can have it "non-disclosed" which means prospective employers, etc., can't find it when you apply for the job (information isn't available to the general public).  If you mess up again after all those second chance options, that's on you.    For what it's worth, I think those laws are good because a lot of people make a mistake in life, especially when they're young.  But they LEARN from it.  What was being discussed at the symposium is mostly ridiculous.  Lack of consequences in their life is how many ended up where they are in the first place.

  I hadn't thought about Baylor because they weren't previously in the mix.  PhatMack brings up a good point about proximity too.  Will be interesting to see if they are in the hunt.  Would make sense for them to be.

  Your source may be better than mine...my memory!  In fact, we can probably say "is" not "may" ;)   I only followed his recruiting because of his younger brother, Mickey.  It was kind of known that they would be going to school together (very tight-knit family), and Mickey was one of the top 10 kids in the country in his class at that time in hoops (he was a sophomore I believe).  I do know, as a Longhorn, Texas was never really in the mix for Mike (I assume not for a lack of trying).  I also remember OU being in his top 5 (I think - also main school I didn't want getting him), and FSU being considered a front runner (that was while watching the ESPN show at that Nike camp) due to his family originally being from Florida.    A&M should definitely be in the hunt.  Sumlin's going to need some help from Kennedy with Mickey to close the deal.  Before Mickey committed to tOSU to follow his brother, his other finalists were Duke, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, UNC, OU, and UT.  So we are kind of like A&M, we were at least in the hunt for Mickey, but not for Mikey.  For either of us to get the one, we need to convince the other (IMO - still think they'll end up together).  My fear is both will end up at OU.    For what it's worth, for both of their sakes, I would much rather the Aggies land them than that place up North!

By the way, the family moved to Dallas from Florida and Florida State was initially considered the front runner for Mikey before he signed with tOSU.  OU was also heavily in the mix.  Will be interesting to follow.

His little brother Mickey had committed to tOSU to play basketball as well.  Mike is a beast - set the Nike Camp Sparq (sp?) record - a series of combine-like drills (vertical leap, 40 yd, shuttle drill) to test overall athleticism.  And this from a LB.  My guess is it will be a school that his father would like Mickey to play basketball at as well.

To weigh in on the current high school situation, as far as pure talent goes, I like the depth of players at Central and Silsbee.  I would probably give the edge to Central but this doesn't necessarily translate to wins.  An example would be how evenly Nederland plays Central with FAR less talent.  With the Toon kid transferring to Nederland, I am not sure that gets any easier for the Jags next year.  He is an upgrade from Coach English's graduating son IMO. 

McCain is a special kid and a great young player and his little brother might end up better.  Future looks bright for Silsbee basketball.  In this age group, watch out for Port Arthur Memorial.  Port Arthur Lincoln 7th grade went undefeated in every boys sport this year and were unscored upon in Football.  I saw a couple of their basketball games and they might have beat any junior high team in this area.  Loaded with talent.