Just got home from the George Clinton show here in DeKalb. The cost was $30, but luckily i had someone hook me up. Great show. I mean, anytime you get the opportunity to see someone like that play, it is well worth it. BB King is playing here in April, and I just hope I can find the time to catch that show.

So I'm at the show, and the guy in front of me pulls a classic "jaylowe." He comes in with one girl ... dances with her, buys her drinks. Then he comes across another girl, obviously a friend, but someone who is interested in him as well. So the rest of the night, this poor dumb fool is hanging out with both girls trying to figure out which one he might end up with. It totally reminded me of ME back in school. Grad school or undergrad, that is what I was doing. Always trying to find out if there was something better out there.

Little did I know I'd be here, almost 26, and still single. I think it is ok though. I enjoy my life. I work hard, and when I can, I play hard. It's just amazing that I feel this need to someday be with just one woman. I mean, isn't that strange? Aren't we like the only mammal on the planet besides penguins that mate with one other person?

These are the things I think about while drunk. If I'm only supposed to mate once, who the F$%K is it gonna be? I know, I'm too young to worry about that stuff. I do think about it though. Is that wrong? I don't think so.

Ugh, the things I write here sometime make no sense ... but either does my life at times. So drop a line and tell me how silly I am.

It's something that was eminent. You knew it was going to happen tonight, you just weren't sure of the time.

At around 8:30 Central time, news came across CNN.com that the allied forces attacked a specified area thought to be housing Saddam Hussein. And so it has begun. No one likes war, but I support these attacks. It seems to be a necessary evil. I'm not big on political stances, mainly because I'm not smart enough to understand all of the aspects, but Saddam has been in power far too long. It is time to rip him out of his egotistical control and give some balance back to the Middle East.

It doesn't seem as if the war has totally started yet. The "decapitation attack" is only the beginning, but for the sake of everyone involved, I hope it ends quickly. Every single soldier over there deserves the right to come home quickly, US, British or Iraqis. Until that happens though, a job must be done. Rid the world of an evil genius.

Would I fight? Hell yes I would. Am I throwing myself out there to volunteer? No. If my country asked me to fight, I would do so. I just feel so fortunate I am here in DeKalb. Yes, I just said I feel fortunate to be in DeKalb.

God bless everyone over there, especially our US soldiers. May peace fall over the battlefield, and may everyone return home safely.

Ok, so I did end up going to Cleveland last Tuesday for the MAC Basketball Tournaments. I got the call Tuesday morning, telling me I had a hotel room for the week and job duties for the women's championship. Needless to say, I was frantic Tuesday morning, but the trip was worth every second. Here are some highlights and thoughts:

Tuesday night, I roll into town with Cameron, our assistant director of marketing. She used her flirting skills to get owner of a little Irish pub to close his doors and take us out on the town. He buys us drinks all night, and we end up at this sweet place called Liquid, were we end up drinking with NFL Hall of Famer, and former Cleveland Brown, Leroy Kelly. How is that for your first night in Cleveland?

You have to love being the benefactor of a girl flirting. She does all the work. Dumb guy falls for it. I get free drinks all night.

Wednesday I head over to the Gund for the quarterfinals of the women's tournament. Was fortunate enough to meet some GREAT people with the MAC, as well as with other universities. Marshall and Kent State apparently volunteer for these tournaments every year. I'm pretty proud of myself for volunteering, when it seemed like such a strange idea to some of my co-workers. Hey, it helps for me to meet these people, but I truly believe it also helps to show that our athletic department is ready and willing to help out the conference.

Wednesday night, more of the same. This time Flip was in town, as well as some others from the department. We all went out yet again. Good times.

Girls have it too easy. Second night in a row I have benefited from girls flirting with guys. Hey, I don't mind the free drinks, but couldn't it just happen once where I flirt with a girl and it actually works?

I slept in late Thursday. The women's teams had the day off, and it was quarterfinal day for the men. I didn't really care about the early games, so sleeping in was a much better option. However, when I did wake up, I was sucked into possibly the worst movie EVER made. James Earl, what were you thinking?

So once I motivated myself, I headed down to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I figured I had to do at least one touristy thing, but this was pretty remarkable. U2 was the featured exhibit. I have always been a fan, but now I have much more respect for their work. The HOF is indeed something everyone should try to see, even if you aren't a music lover.

No real jazz or rap areas in the HOF, except the clothes Chuck D wore in the "Don't believe the hype" video. I suppose neither are really rock and roll. Maybe there just needs to be a Music Hall of Fame.

Had a drink before the Huskies game vs. Western Michigan in the sports bar in the Gund. We ask the lady bartender to turn one of the TV's to ESPN so we can watch the FSU/Clemson game. Here is the conversation that transpired: ME:Yes ma'am, could you please turn the above TV to ESPN. We'd like to watch the ACC tournament play-in game
LADY:I don't think we get that channel.
ME:I'm sorry? Is this a sports bar?
LADY:Honey, we are busy. Let me see if I can find a remote. (there were maybe 15 people in there)
ME:Nice to see customer service is of the utmost importance here.
LADY:Here. I changed it.
ME:Ma'am, that is Fox Sports. They are playing the 1783 Sun Belt championship. I was looking for ESPN.
LADY:Give me a few minutes.
ME:Fine. Man, you thought the 80s had short basketball shorts. They wore just underwear in the 1783 Sun Belt championship.
LADY:Ok, here you go.
ME:Ma'am, this is ESPN2. See, before ESPN2 was ever created, there was this wonderful channel called ESPN.
LADY:Well, I don't think we get that.
ME:WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?! With all due respect, could you be insane? I'm not sure I've ever heard of a Sports Bar without ESPN.
LADY:Jim (manager), do you know if we get ESPN?
JIM:Um, YEAH. Give me the remote.
ME:Oh thank Christ.

The ACC really needs to spring for a custom championship floor like the BIG 10(11) did in Chicago. Davis, you listening?

The Huskies pulled out a nice win over Western, only to set-up the ass beating from Central Michigan (they won the whole thing)Friday night. The Huskies had a hell of a season considering how it started out. I was proud of the coaches and kids.

What is it about wearing a visor that causes people to want to pick on you? Yes, I like wearing visors from time to time. And yes, I like spiking up my hair with gel. Get over it.

Friday night, had a great sit down session with some of the guys in the department who made the trip ... Smoose, RC, Tim, Brad, Phil ... great bantering back and forth, although I can repeat none of it here.

Tim actually gave me some very enlightening advice. He is about 5 years away from being an athletic director somewhere. I've got to ponder the advice over the next few weeks, but if I want to be an athletic director, I think I know the road I need to take.

Western Michigan is your 2003 MAC women's basketball champion. It was really a great experience being involved with the tournament. I love the championship atmosphere. I was told to plan on being back next year for both tournaments. So I'm back in DeKalb. Had a great week that I wasn't even expecting. Time to kick some work ass this week and nail down all of the travel plans for football, and get this 2003 MAC Men's Tennis Championship squared away. Should be a great week. And hey, it's MARCH MADNESS time. Yeah, I know. My Dogs aren't in it, neither are my Huskies or Heels. All I have left to say is ... GO DEACS!

A dark cloud has fallen.

The more I think about it, the more disappointed and upset I become. My alma mater has gotten some press this week, but it hasn't been the good kind. Head basketball coach Jim Harrick was suspended yesterday, amidst allegations of academic fraud and other wrong doings. As an alum, this saddens me. The basketball program was beginning to make a name for itself. Alas, that name has come with a price. The team will also not compete in the 2003 SEC Basketball Tournament or the NCAA tournament, which they were a lock for an at-large bid, at worst.

As an athletic administrator this troubles me. We've seen several basketball scandals this year, and it really makes you question why we are doing what we are doing.

We aren't saving the world. We aren't birthing babies. We aren't finding cures for horrible diseases. We are a part of sport, of games. GAMES. College athletics, at least at the top level, is no longer just about games. It is about winning. It is about recruiting. It is about money.

Now, Harrick hasn't been found guilty of any wrong doings yet, but the writing is on the wall in CLEAR red and black ink. He did things he thought would give him an advantage over the Kentuckys and the Floridas. He knew he had to come into the SEC, which is a now thriving basketball conference, and win games. He had to compete for SEC titles, and make NCAA tournament berths. All he ended up doing was hurting the very university that gave him another chance and the kids he thought he was helping.

I'm sickened by all of this. I really am. I hate it for various reasons. I'm an alum. I'm a Georgia supporter. I love the fact that I was a part of that university. I have many good friends in the athletic department. I hate they are having to deal with this.

But with every screw up, there are lessons. Rules are there for a reason, and NO, they aren't made to be broken.

I feel like this is starting to ramble. I do hope the ship gets turned around there. I hope all of my good friends there are able to weather the storm.

Back to life ... this week is going to be relaxing for a change. I was supposed to go to Cleveland for the MAC Basketball Championships, but I have decided against it. It'll be good to stay here, get some work done and just rest. I deserve it, right?

I hope all is well with you, my friends and family. I hope sun shines on you ... Lord knows, it isn't shinning in Athens like it used to.

Coaching can be so difficult.

So before our women's game tonight, I sat down and had a conversation with one of our assistant coaches. She was in tears because she feels her team doesn't trust her coaching ability. She's got athletes complaining to the head coach, girls not responding in practice and others threatening to transfer. Why? Because she wants them to work had.

When was it stated to kids that working hard wasn't that big a deal anymore? Seriously, it is a problem. I think it's trickled down over the years. I have no doubt that my parents generation worked harder than my generation does today. But kids now a day want instant satisfaction. We live in a world where everything is "user friendly." People just expect to be good at something, or they expect everything to go the way they want it to.

NEWS FLASH:

Being a D-I athlete is a job. It is very difficult work, long hours and sometimes with no positive results. You become a D-I student-athlete for different reasons, the first being an education (well, it should be the first). The second reason should be your love of your sport.

Coaches come in all types. Some demand hard work. Others cater to each athlete individually. It really just is up to the coaches' personality. But why cater to everyone? Why not be hard of fist, like our buddy Norman Dale? Good ol Norman didn't back down to his kids. And coaches shouldn't have to. Now, I'm not saying pull a "Bobby Knight" and choke a kid. But demanding more in the field of play is needed.

Coaches yell. That is what they do. They don't yell because they hate the kids or don't believe in them. They yell because they see so much opportunity, yet little results. There are kids out there that would kill for scholarships to D-I A schools. They'd give anything to have their school paid for, or to have the right to participate at that level. Hell, if I could go back and be a kid again, I would DEMAND my parents help me become a better athlete.

There are millions of ways of motivating people, but I think athletes should expect a little chirp in their ear if they aren't performing. If I was slacking off at work, I'd expect for someone to yell at me. Even if I was working hard, but wasn't doing a great job, I'd expect my boss to say something to me. It's part of life. We all need our weaknesses pointed out. It is the desire to improve on those that sets people apart.

And no, I'm not getting into the whole "should athletes get paid" debate. That is for another time.

Oh, the guitar came in yesterday. It is tuned, I have my dvd lessons and I am ready to rock people!

So I bought an acoustic guitar about a week ago, and it should be arriving in the mail today. I'm pretty pumped. I already own an electric and an amp. So there is my hobby for the rest of the year. My plan is to be writing my own songs by December. That is possible, right? Here goes nothing.

Familiar faces are always a great thing. I traveled down to Champaign, IL, this morning to see the Wake Women's Tennis team take on Illinois. Tough match for the girls ... and it's really been a tough season. But it was great seeing Fleish, Janet and the team. I always adopt a team or two as my favorites where ever I am working. Women's tennis and baseball were easily my favorites at Wake. All great kids, great coaches ... just wonderful programs for which to work. Oh, and i've adopted a team here. The Huskie Track team is full of great personalities and nice kids. Not to mention, they are all girls and all cute. Hey, nothing wrong with a darling smile brightening up my day. Lord knows i need it in the snowy, cold midwest.

Busy week coming up. Women's hoops tuesday, then double header hoops on Saturday and gymnastics on Sunday. However, i WISH gymastics was just a one day thing. OH NO ... you have one day where you move all the equipment over to the Convo Center. Another day where you set it up, and then the third for competition and break down. We need more storage in this freakin' place.

Well, i was told it was time to take off the catfight post from last week ... and for all those concerned, julie and i are over. Yes, after my one night love affair, I just decided we had moved to fast. I mean, we never spoke, but I think that is probably for the best. Someone would've gotten hurt. It just wouldn't have been a good situation ... hahahaha ... am i drunk, or just reeeeeeeeally tired?

That's it folks ... a short one today. I do want to thank everyone who reads the Lowe Down. It's always nice when i hear that someone is reading. Not that there is EVER anything important here. Maybe i should start talking about worly topics ... like how these crazy women want into the Masters ... on second though, i won't touch that.

Good day to you all.