Sam Mellinger

The Kansas City Star

Busy, busy day with John Currie’s (un)tearful goodbye to his (un)BFF Frank Martin. I mentioned on Twitter yesterday that I couldn’t write because I was attending to a family matter, but I am writing a column today, so let’s just get to it…

@PhilGarver Has your Dad ever called you soft?

This is in response to the column on Bill Self off the win over North Carolina. As it happened, I was in the car with my dad when I saw this tweet.

His response:

“I know better.”

Damn straight.

@connor_ocolly Is Thomas Robinson better than what Wayne Simien was at Kansas?

I actually asked Bill Self this question earlier in the season, and if I remember correctly, he basically said it was close but that Simien could do more things. Keep in mind, that was much earlier in the season, before Robinson truly blossomed, before he became the undisputed king of a team that’s now in the Final Four — a place Simien never made it as his team’s best player.

You can’t go wrong either way, and Simien gets credit for playing four years and having a much longer sustained peak, but I’d take this season from Robinson over any that Simien had.

@froggiemlm #twittertuesday Is it time 4 Williams to retire? getting dizzy on the sideline cant see the def being played. Go enjoy the Gkids

That answer about how he thought KU was only in the triangle-and-two for one possession, maybe two, will go down as one of the most stunning I’ve ever heard from a coach — especially a great one.

I understand that details can get hazy in the emotional moments after a game like that, but my gosh, that game turned in the TEN MINUTES or so that KU went to the triangle-and-two. Surprising answers rarely come during press conferences, but that is an enormous exception.

If you’re a North Carolina fan, you have to be fuming or depressed or both.

@froggiemlm #twittertuesday #kuboobs God bless the lady jayhawk nation.

Said it plenty of times, but Twitter is a weird place.

@ClintT13 In honor of your upcoming trip to New Orleans to see The Black Keys (and maybe some hoops) give us your rankings of their albums.

1. Brothers: for my money, the best album I’ve ever heard.

2. Thickfreakness: still what I consider the essence of this band.

3. Blackroc: I’ve always loved rap set over rock.

4. Rubber Factory: would be higher, but this list is loaded, and the only Keys song I hate (Grown So Ugly) is on this album.

5. El Camino: I absolutely love this album, and it’s No. 5. Best band ever.

6. Attack and Release: “I Got Mine” is either my favorite or second-favorite song of theirs (Next Girl).

7. Magic Potion: “Your Touch” is the alpha dog song here.

8. The Big Come Up: “I’ll Be Your Man” is a classic.

@budmanmizzou why r KU fans playing the no respect card? How stupid is KSU to let FrankMartin get away?

I addressed that first question a little bit in Monday’s column. I’m with you. Compared to the last few years, sure, this is a down season for KU and the idea that a program makes a Final Four in a down season is part amazing, part absurd.

But they’re also a Final Four team now, with 31 wins, a conference championship and a consensus All-America playing a powerhouse program they beat earlier this year. So, yeah, let’s ease up on the no respect thing.

But “no respect” is also a time-honored tradition in sports, and whatever gets you going…

As for your second question, yeah, that’s the hot topic today. Just look:

@danmerker I’m a KSU alum. Average KU team in F4 again, Frank leaving. Why should I not jump off a building? #twittertuesday

Well, just off the top of my head, there’s the pulled pork at Oklahoma Joe’s, wings at the Peanut, “Next Girl” by the Black Keys, Boulevard Pale Ale, and, perhaps more than anything else, Twitter Tuesdays.

@patronaut0709 #TwitterTuesday I’ve said this twice today: The week would only be worse if my wife left me for Chris Getz and moved to SC.

Noted.

@Bobsterinkc Martin was a nut job. He was an embarrassment on the sidelines. Good riddance. He needs to grow up and act professional.

Well…

@5BrentC58 Who does K-State think they can get that’s better than Frank, & couldn’t Frank at least try to go some place equal to K-State?

…ummm…

@JaredSPalmer Is Frank Martin to South Carolina Mizzou’s fault too?

…I see what you did there…

@d_nadler True/False: Frank leaving is the WORST thing that could happen to KSU Athletix, incl Snyder retiring. I say True, What Say U? #TT

…I say slow down. Frank is a very good coach. I wrote in a few weeks ago that no matter what he will be remembered as the most successful K-State basketball coach since Lon Kruger, and that’s just as true today.

But he’s also not John Wooden.

Actually, he’s not even Bob Huggins.

Frank will be missed, of course. He is wildly popular, very successful, and the new guy would do well just to match what Frank’s done.

But this isn’t the apocalypse.

@SAC_74 Got any stories about frank Martin and his temper you want (can) share? #kstate #twittertuesday

I always liked Frank, or at least always got a kick out of him. I never got into any screaming matches or anything like that, but did have a couple fascinating conversations. Frank is a complicated guy, and complicated mostly in very good ways. I’ll miss having him around.

The only thing he ever told me that’s close to answering your questions was, and I’m paraphrasing: All I ask is that you’re fair to me and my players. You do that, I’ll always answer your calls. If you don’t, I’ll never talk to you again.

@TheNumber65 Over/under on Frank Martin years @ SC?

Six and a half. Or, more specifically: whenever the Miami job comes open and the administration there is willing to overlook Frank’s rough edges.

@Chief_Wildcat I lost my bet to @mellinger. :|

This is from the bet described here, about whether Frank Martin had peaked as K-State’s basketball coach.

And a classy move here by Johnny, to admit the bet, unlike the time I won a bet with Nick Wright about whether Chad Ochocinco’s crazy ass would make Sporting Kansas City’s roster and he whined about a technicality.

@EdBartel Scored tickets to the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying semis on Saturday. What’s the can’t miss concession item at LiveStrong?

I can feel an artery clogging just by typing these words and remembering the experience, but the bacon-wrapped hot dog is pretty tough to beat.

@gavinesq What kind of fire is there other than hot fire?

Well, sometimes Kent writes…

@pandajerk01 Who do u think will be batting in # 2 hole for Royals come opening day?

My guess is Lorenzo Cain. He’s fast and has been killing it this spring. Although, if I may, I’d prefer to see Billy Butler there. A terrific hitter, handles the bat well, studies show the No. 2 spot is incredibly important and shamefully misused, and if you go Gordon-Butler-Hosmer at the top of the order you can maintain the left-right-left thing.

Get your best hitters the most plate appearances. I’d love to see this happen.

Also, it won’t happen.

@KCRoyalman Hey @Mellinger we burn Peyton Manning throughout the show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzhtJ33j-Mc&feature=colike

I guess I asked for this.

@js82 How much did you pay to get the prime seat behind Marv Albert? Why a white shirt.. just to show yourself off a little more?

That was actually a yellow shirt, or, as I like to call it: Golden Ruggishness.

@ksubmac #TwitterTuesday u probly dont have time, but just in case, what do you think: What Frank Martin Means to Me http://ksubmac.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-frank-martin-means-to-me.html

Usually I like to end these things with the silliest question I see. This time, I’m ending with the most thoughtful. There’s a lot of good stuff in here, I hope you take the time to read it.

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