Get the Funk Out!

My emotional sports rollercoaster is giving me a tummyache.

Last night it was the Rebels turn to torture me. They were obviously still tired and bloated from Thanksgiving and lost their 2nd game in a row....AT HOME. Yikes. Back to back home losses haven't happened in 5+ years. California came in on Friday and handed UNLV an embarassing 18 point loss, and then Cincy played tough down the stretch and beat the Runnin' Rebels 65-63 last night. We mailed it in.

No question, the team is in a MAJOR post-Thanksgiving funk right now. With the exception of Joe Darger, the shooters can barely hit the rim (Kendall Wallace actually MISSED the rim, but did manage to hit the side of the backboard - doink), our tall guys forgot how to box out the other teams tall guys, free throw shooting is iffy, and we just look plain lost out there on the floor. I was VERY happy to see Lon fired up at the players. He was worked up to the point where his face was all red, spit was flying out of his mouth and one of the other coaches had to hold him back from going after a referee. That's the sort of coaching these guys need.

Our seats at the T & M are different this year - instead of being the lone rangers, we jumped over a section and up 3 rows. This puts us in the same area as Wade, Ben, and Davey. In fact, our seats are next to Davey's and that means we start our comedy routine hours before tipoff with funny text messages. The silliness continues throughout the game and even afterward during Lon's postgame radio show that is permeated by his overuse of the word "uh." "We, uh, need to play better offensively down the stretch and, uh, need more, uh, senior (pronounced: Scenior) leadership." Blah, blah, blah... "Thanks Gondo," typically ends the show.

We are also sponsoring 3 point shots this year. Each time the Rebels make a 3 pointer, the scoreboard lights up "Leavitt Insurance Agency" and "LGBS Benefits" is on the new video boards that are between the upper and lower bowls. It's fun to help the program and it helps keep our name in the community.

The rebels are in a funk and they need to get out of it. We're off to Fresno on Tuesday to play FSU. I'm taking a client of ours and his daughter on the trip. We fly up on the team charter with some other boosters and always have a great time. Our clients love it too - kids get autographs and pictures with Coach Kruger and the team and the Rebels enjoy some road support from a small band of loyal and loud UNLV fans.

5-2 to start the year is okay. Expectations are high after 2 solid years and trips to the NCAA tournament. Wink will bust out of his 5-25 slump; TreVon will learn to give up the ball sometimes; Beas will get some good minutes and be a defensive force, and Joe will continue to lob three-pointers. Rebels will be fine.

Peace.