Chapter #49: Big 12 Tournament 2013

Just almost two weeks now from been at my 2nd Big 12 tournament of course last I went to my 1st conference tourney in Kansas City where the Kansas State Wildcats basketball team lost to the Baylor Bears in the first round when Frank Martin was the head coach. This trip was different in the fact of a new coach, same team, and different result.

 Texas: I should mention that I didn't go up to KC just as a fan; I was there working/representing for my radio station the Wildcat 91.9 and I call the 1st round game between K-State and Texas which saw K-State go off to a slow start before the offense for the Cats got going and pulled away from the Longhorns. They beat twice in the regular season and pretty much swept Texas 66-49 in the 1st round. With good performances from Rodney, Angel, and a spark off the bench by DJ Johnson the Cats moved on to night #2 of the Big 12 tourney.

Oklahoma State: I worked the Social Media side of things for this the semifinal game between the Cowboys in which this was also the 3rd meeting that these teams Ok. State and K-State have met with the previous meeting in Stillwater that the Cowboys prevailed led by LaBryan Nash but here in the tourney it was a different story. A K-State run towards the end of the 1st half and defense that keyed on Nash and Marcus Smart the Big 12 player of the year and the Cats got some payback winning 68-57 over Oklahoma State to advance to the championship round Rodney McGruder and Angel Rodriguez led the way once again even big man off the bench this time Thomas Gipson.

Kansas: There was one little surprise coming into the Sprint Center in Kansas City before the game with all of the teams that have been eliminated from the tourney our crew had the oppurtunity to call the game from front row which means basically courtside in basketball. And man, what a view from down there with me being the color commentator for this one just the view from the floor is a lot more different from up to in the arena and with lot of pretty much KU fans it was a pack house. And from what we saw Kansas once again put the clamps on K-State and took home the conference tournament in a great performance 70-54. And for the third straight game this season, the Jayhawks defeated the Cats. It's been the same old story here lately which becomes a question will K-State be up to a competition level wit KU?? I can't even answer that one. The Jayhawks every year seem to be the team to beat. Overall, being in KC for the weekend was another great experience.

Stay Cool,
EG3

Chapter #48: Showdown City- #9 Kansas State vs. #13 Oklahoma State

The final regular season game final Big 12 game will on Saturday afternoon where the Cats will be either a #1 or #2 seed depending on the outcome of both of these games. Meanwhile Kansas will be on the road taking on Baylor in the night game the Bears are really struggling and looks they won't make the tourney unless they somehow, someway knockoff KU which would with a K-State win the Cats get the regular season title. But once again, the Jayhawks have the inside track to the title again. A veteran squad led by McGruder and company look to close out the season on a very high note down in Stillwater, OK against Marcus Smart and the Cowboys. I think this game goes down to the wire unless one of these teams does not show up, I doubt that. Too much is riding on this game; K-State winners of  10 of it's last 11 games and on a mission it looks like. 12:30pm in Stillwater, OK

Green-White-Checkered

Green: Bruce Weber Style

Bruce Weber has this K-State that I have seen all year playing at a high level. Early on it didn't look very good at all this Wildcat team playing very well right now. Even if the team does not Will in this game which I haven't heard anything yet on that...Rodney, Angel, Shane, Martavious and co look continue their play against Oklahoma State in a tough environment.

White: Marcus Smart

One of the talented Freshman in the College Basketball this year and in the Big 12 averaging 14 points look from him to play a huge role in the game along the usual cast of characters Markel Brown, La' Bryan Nash and even Phil Forte from the 3-point line.

Checkered: Last Meeting- 73-67 Kansas State in Manhattan

Rodney McGruder was the difference in the game clearly put up 2 different halfs. The 2nd half is where it counted for the Cats as Rodney went off. For the game McGruder had 28 points in this one while Nino Williams added in 17. If Cats gets that from Big time Rod in the season finale the Cats will be sitting right there on top. Marcus Smart had 25 points. Will this be a repeat?? It's possible but I see Rodney getting close to 20 points again. He will need more help from his teammates if their winning in Stillwater. Big question, is Spradling playing? Will find out; I'm not give a score prediction but this will be tight game for 40 minutes but I will say the Cats have a shot to win this game.


Stay Cool,
EG3

Chapter #47: Rivalries Part 1

What makes a true rivalry?? Obviously someone or team who knock off the other and each with a certain time period it is a week or a year most likely that side wins...then it is a rivalry. This is a relation with sports and how often do we as most of us are a fan of sports see rivalries going on in different types of sports I think to me that's what sports is about not all the time but definitely most.

NFL: I'm not the biggest fan of the NFL but when the playoffs arrive then it's big deal unless I'm looking at the Atlanta Falcons which I try to do each week. Football season just came to a close two weekends ago...getting to those conference battles or division games where pretty much you are playing for something I think are the best games. For one the Redskins and Cowboys this past season had it's moments but when Robert Griffin III (RG3) came into the show in D.C it started to change everything especially with this season the Redskins ended up winning both meetings including the last game of the season on Sunday night which sent Washington to the postseason. Another battle from this season the Ravens and the Steelers from the AFC North where the road teams went into the other's stadium and beat them. That's what have a rival is all about...

NCAA: Obviously, early this week I watch my K-State basketball team play Kansas and once again losing to them on the road in Lawrence again is something that us as students see to far often. KU once again sweeps the season series against the Cats like they did last season follow that up by another road loss big. It seems to me it does not matter the coach or what players that are being put out on the floor it seems that Kansas gets the best of them every time. K-State had the opportunity to put the Big 12 on ice and now find themselves in the dogfight with KU, Oklahoma State and throw Baylor in the mix...what going to happen next in the Big 12 race find out real soon.

MLB: Going back to those division rivalries and now you have interleague play where the American League team plays the National League depending on where it is you have to play within those rules DH or no DH at all. Atlanta/Boston, New York/New York, St. Louis/Kansas City these types games are fun for fans to enjoy and even if you are not a baseball fan different types of games make it interesting. More on this topic in the later chapters to come.

Stay Cool,
EG3

Chapter #46: New Year, Different Start

My bad y'all, haha!! I have been slacking with blogging lately but guess what I'm back and this is my fist blog of the new year and it's in February. Yeah, my hands have been tied up with a busy semester, some switching up in my classes, radio, and most likely a possible trip which could most likely change everything. Running through this in the back of my head this could be the most epic year yet and it just started and we are only in the second month already. Time ticking...this right will once again be the start of another year of blogging my 3rd year of doing this since moving on to Kansas State. Already I have made some moves to benefit myself to make sure that I can do the things that I need to do...I'm working my way back into this a little bit so be patience, haha. That's why this episode is only an intro...also, there will be some mixing it a little bit more at least of right now this spring semester. More on that as I getting to this spring semester. Not just on facebook will be getting these blog posts but I will be posting these to my twitter account as well. Yes, my follower count is growing a little bit now and that audience needs to be informed too, lol. I think that's it for now, more to come throughout the spring semester.

Stay Cool,
EG3

Chapter #45: EG3's Favorite Moments of 2012 #6-8

Alright I'll switch it up a little bit...coming up I've already done number 10 and 9. After a little bit, now it's time to round out my favorite moments 6 thru 10.

EG3 Favorite #8: Road to Ames
Hitting a critical stretch in the season for Kansas State in football where the Wildcats had to go on the road to take on Iowa State and West Virginia in back to back weeks but first it was going up to Ames, Iowa getting ready to do color commentary for this broadcast for the Wildcat 919 station. The night before the game I left Manhattan with Steven and Jake on an rainy night tag along with some of the boys from the Collegian and once we got to Ames...well we were really close to staying in the hotel some 30 minutes away from Ames and saved by a last minute switch to a hotel room that just opened up in Ames. Once we all got there some 7 guys in one tiny small hotel room, haha...yeah you can do the math there. You gotta make the best of a kinda bad situation but us guys like to have fun and talking about sports...which was the night the St. Louis Cardinals came all the way back to beat the Washington Nationals in the division series in DC where at least the Nationals had the best team in the National League and look how that ended up.

Shoutouts:
Steven Seib
Jake Brew
Mark Kern
John Zetmeir
and 2 more guys

EG3 Favorite #7: Fireworks
Back in July while I was still in Manhattan for the summer...for the Fourth of July celebration I went with the Bowman's to Junction City, KS where the Fuller's are located and celebrated a fun night with them. I can stay that the traditions that they do are dangerous fun in a good way; before that I saw their fireworks show. It was once again an great opportunity to hangout with people from the church that I go to and get to know them more.

Shoutouts
Bowman family/Derek Bowman
Fuller Fam/Kenneth and Kylie

EG3 Favorite #6: What's Up West Virginia
That 's about 16 hours...well almost it took us to get to Morgantown, West Virginia for the showdown between K-State/West Virginia. This matchup was downplayed a bit because of the beatdown that Texas Tech gave West Viginia down in Lubbock, TX the week before. Again, I was color commentary for the  game and obviously we left the day before going through at least 7 states in the car. Lucky this game was in primetime, lol. Just going up there and seeing Collin Klein outplay Geno Smith who was in the middle of the Heisman was something else. K-State was on point everything including shutting down Smith which kept the Wildcats at the time undefeated. If they would've lost then we are talking about something else. To this game was the fact that Kansas State and West Virginia met as Big 12 opponents. The way with my own eyes just seeing K-State embrass WVU...I was in complete awe and happy the way that they did it.

Shoutouts
Mark Kern
Steven S.
Mav. McCoy
John Z.

Until next time,
*EG3

Chapter #44 EG3 Favorite (#9): Hanging out in Manhattan

EG3 #9: This favorite moment from the fall semester of 2012 comes from once again earlier in the semester where pretty all of the sports teams for Kansas State like the football team, volleyball, the Men's and Women's basketball teams getting introduce to the city of Manhattan, KS for an event which is called the Purple Power Play on Poyntz...yeah a lot of P's in that tilte. But that's what it's called which was on Poyntz Avenue where fans from not just in the area but outside the state of Kansas who are big fans of K-State get fired up for the upcoming season. It was just great to be out in the environment with some of my staff friends at the Wildcat 91.9 giving tons of items away to some of the students and folks at the events. It was cool being out there and also I felt I was at a carnival or something, haha!!

*EG3

Shoutouts to:
Elijah
Jen
Caitlin
Mary
Jared

Chapter #43: EG3 Favorite (#10) Calling 1st ever Football Game

EG3 #10: Going back early this past semester in September before this epic season by the K-State football team; the semester prior I called my first basketball and baseball games of my radio career and I was really exciting and very anxious to get started with the season. Even though the opponent in Missouri State coming into Manhattan the unknown of myself and this Wildcat team led by Collin Klein which we all knew at least me and K-State country knew the potential of this team coming off a Cotton Bowl lost a season ago to Arkansas, this had a lot players return and ready to take to the next level. At least in the 1st half of the opening game of the season, Missouri State kept things really close and the Cats playing to their level making the game interesting with field goal after field goal. If I remember correctly the game was all tied up going into break and the guys in the booth with that evening were saying up here we close again...meaning that the Wildcats nearing the opening last year to a not so good opponent. But the 2nd half of this game though was totally different with the Cats exploding with big play, after big play. Special Teams was huge with Tramanie Thompson and Tyler Lockett making plays. My excitment in calling this game turned in to just trying to finished at the same time losing my voice after the Jon Hubert run. K-State turned on the jets to defeat Missouri State on opening night. I still think that was a lot of fun...a lot of fun to do. You got to make the most of your oppurtunities and I'm blessed with just a chance to do the game which that would my first out of two games of the season. Ashton Glacier did prove himself the QB of the Missouri State team would came into the kinda trash talking on twitter but that would not be enough as the Wildcats prove they were obviously the better team. Shoutout to Mark Kern color commentary guy for that game we were all laughing and enjoying ourselves.

Shoutouts:
Mark Kern
Chris Harrison
Caleb Jones

*EG3