Fortuna Faveat... may fortune favor us

This makes me feel kinda funny, like when I used to climb the rope in gym class. Sooo happy! Patrick love KU! KU make Patrick cry!

Border War debuts on Metro Sports on Wednesday Nov. 26 at 7:00 PM. It will re-air multiple times on Thanksgiving Day. Border War will also air on Fri. Nov. 28, & Sat Nov. 29.

• Time Warner KC Ch 30
• Comcast Ch 258
• Sunflower Ch 37

Eric Ashel is another proud alumnus of The University of Kansas, a Jayhawk through and through. He was brave enough to venture deep into Tiger country for his documentary, Border War, that purports to dig deep into the roots of the rivalry between The University of Kansas and the University of Missouri, the greatest sports rivalry in the United States. Obviously, I’m completely objective on this issue.

I haven’t seen the film yet, but I could hardly be more excited about it. I think it will be the definitive answer to last year’s HBO documentary on the lake party love fest that purports to be the Michigan and The Ohio State University rivalry. I’m counting on this movie to prove, once and for all, that no other rivalry comes close to our athletics, hatred, history and vitriol.

All you far-flung Jayhawks out conquering the broader world should make a point to check it out if you are back home with the family over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Clearly, this is one of the best Halloween costumes ever. Definitely worth clicking the pic to see the side-by-side. Enjoy!

Thanks, Elizabeth!

Glorious! Just glorious! There was rolling thunder here in Lawrence throughout the game and it certainly seemed a good omen. Turns out, it was. I would like to say thank you to Jay Bilas, as he is the only one of the national broadcasters covering the game last night that picked KU to win. Way to recognize, Jay. Honorable mention goes to Coach Bobby Knight for saying it was too close to call. What a spectacular year it has been for KU athletics. I’m glad I got the chance to be in Lawrence to listen to the festivities erupt from the comfort of my couch. I’m too old to run down the middle of the street now, but I’m glad there were 40,000 others that weren’t! Rock Chalk Jayhawk, go KU!

The NC shirt close up. Click to enlarge.

Jayhawk Nation, let the outrage commence! Here is a classic error made new. On sale over at the CBS Sports shop (still on sale at 12:23 6:12 PM CDT), you can pick up a bit of what they clearly must think is “future history”. They are selling University of North Carolina National Champions t-shirts for the low, low price of $17.99. I don’t know about you, but this kind of stuff really gets my wheat waving! I can think of a few Jayhawks that might think this a bit premature, not to mention UCLA and Memphis fans. Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Go KU!

The 'march madness' category, with the NC shirt included.

UPDATE: Courtney points out that if you look closely at this image, you can see a completed bracket! Perhaps someone with better eyes than I can use this info to make a small fortune in Vegas! If you do, don’t forget your friendly neighborhood blogger!

UPDATE PART DEUX: If you follow the original link now (9:30 AM CDT, 4/4), they are now offering “National Champion” and “Championship Run” shirts for all four teams. Equity is nice, but should they really be selling these before the games have even been played? Are they really going to press shirts for the teams that aren’t champions? Doubtful.

Oops! I never updated the results from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence awards. KU ended up with four national finalists, including two in the online categories! Without further adieu:

Region 7 second place: Heidi Fedak and Heather Brummitt,
Online News Reporting, "Seniors dance to their health"

Region 7 second place: Heidi Fedak and Michael Phillips,
Online Opinion and Commentary, "eHub"

Region 7 first place and National Finalist:
Matthew Goble and Patrick Shehan, Online In-Depth Reporting,
"Drought affects Kansans"

Region 7 first place and National Finalist:
James Pinick and Andrew Baker, Online Sports Reporting,
"Evolution of KU cheerleading"

Region 7 second place: Staff (me), Best Affiliated Web site, "tv.ku.edu"

Congratulations to all the winners!

Well, while we are waiting for the final word on the SPJ awards, allow me to announce the 2007 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards garnered by the students of KUJH-TV and myself. Is this an acceptance speech? Not quite. But I do want to give credit to the unseen contributor, Katie Lohrenz, for her consulting services on the tv.ku.edu Web site.

The site won first place as “Best Station Web site”! Very exciting! The rest of the KU-centric results are:

Undergraduate Radio:
Sports Play by Play
Honorable Mention: Bryan Cisler, Rustin Dodd

Entertainment Program
First Place: “The Sporting Life” - Rustin Dodd, Blake Cripps, Ryan Elder
Second Place: “The Panel Episode (11.9.06)” - Annie Harrigan, Ian Hrabe, Joe Noh

Undergraduate Television:
Complete Newscast
Second Place: KUJH-TV News (9.18.06) - Kristen Luehrs, Steve Zawilinski, Tami Dreitz, Tracy Perlman, Frank Waugh, Mary Johnson

Hard News Package
Second Place: “Jury Selection” - Darica Nisly

Enterprise News Package
Honorable Mention: “Elections” - Colin Swartz
Honorable Mention: “Family Farms” - Audrey Esther

Complete Sports Feature
Second Place: “Little League” - Rahul Sharma

Entertainment Program
First Place: “KU Q&A” - Scott Winer, Rahul Sharma

Station Website
First Place: “tv.ku.edu”

Graduate Television
Hard News Package
Honorable Mention: “Alternative Transportation” - Heather Brummitt

Enterprise News Package
First Place: “Toy Safety” - Heather Brummitt

Complete News Feature
First Place: “Seniors Dance” - Heather Brummitt

Clearly this isn’t the domination we have grown accustomed to, but things could have been worse. It gives us incentive to improve and reminds us that K-state, Pitt State, Fort Hays State and Wichita State are capable of putting out a good product. I would link to their work so you could check it out, but you can’t see any of their work online. Maybe next year!

My work and that of seven of my students achieved finalist status for the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence Awards. The actual place awarded will be announced April 13-14, 2007, at the regional award’s ceremony in St. Louis, MO. The finalists are:

Heidi Fedak and Heather Brummitt, Online News Reporting,
"Seniors dance to their health"

Heidi Fedak and Michael Phillips, Online Opinion and Commentary, "eHub"

Matthew Goble and Patrick Shehan, Online In-Depth Reporting,
"Drought affects Kansans"

James Pinick and Andrew Baker, Online Sports Reporting,
"Evolution of KU cheerleading"

Staff (me), Best Affiliated Web site, "tv.ku.edu"

The awards will be presented during the Mark of Excellence Luncheon at the upcoming spring conference, April 13-14, 2007, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Stay tuned for results!

Photo: Patrick Lafferty, with a Motorola SLVR

Ahab had his whale, I have my late 80’s Accord. View from the front. Check out my glorious victory over the elusive “paper car” that stalks the countryside around Mt. Oread.