Doc: Chris Mack and the Xavier Way

A tip o’ the TML cap to Chris Mack for becoming Xavier’s winningest coach. A bigger tip to Xavier, for never missing on a coaching hire. Some were obvious (Prosser for Gillen, Mack for Miller) others were inspired. Xavier started the trend of hiring Butler coaches who have delivered (Thad Matta). Sean Miller’s ascension might have been obvious. But he was a tremendous choice.

I don’t know why because I’ve never asked, but in growing its basketball program Xavier seems never to have taken a false step since it hired Bob Staak. Father Hoff understood the marketing importance of basketball; Father Graham has advanced it. The Musketeers play in a perfectly sized gym that while it’s used for other things, is exquisitely suited for the game. It can be a raucous, intimate place that’s big enough to be intimidating yet small enough to retain some intimacy.

XU went from the MCC to the A-10 at a time when two teams in that league, UMass and St. Joseph’s, were ascendant. The timing of the Big East’s breakup was perfect for the Musketeers, who fit right in with the new group of schools, philosophically and basketball-wise.

It was also great timing for Mack, the first X coach to benefit in recruiting from the Big East’s cachet. As one of the TV guys noted last night, Xavier has become a very good job, where it’s realistic to dream of a Final 4. The program is big enough now to hold the ambitions of lots of very good coaches.

Mack has had offers to leave, and he will have them again. I’m not convinced he’s an XU lifer (Pete Gillen’s expression was “never say never’’) but if ever a coach would retire at Xavier, it would be St. X grad, XU alum, West Side guy-who-still-drives-past-his-old-house Chris Mack.

He has the Musketeers playing fun, satisfying basketball. His players get better. See: O’Mara, Sean and Macura, J.P. This year, they’re especially unselfish. They have just enough players making it to the NBA to attract the attention of blue-chip recruits. Mack’s staff has proven to be remarkably good at shaping game plans (except against Villanova) and bringing in very good players. They lose Ed Sumner and don’t miss a step. Kerem Kanter is going to play in the NBA next year. T Bluiett very likely will, too.

All of that is why Mack was reticent about being honored for winning Game No. 203. He knows he’s had a lot of help, from all over. Xavier is a model – maybe The Model, with apologies to Gonzaga – for how to build a big-time basketball program.

Marvin Lewis, John Cranley, others react to Chris Mack's record win

Now, then. . .

LARKIN IN 2019? As Reds manager? In a story written by the Enquirer’s Z. Buchanan, Larkin says he’d like to manage, but not yet. He makes a cryptic reference to a disconnect between the Reds minor- and major-league operations and suggests he’d not entertain the job until that gets fixed, hopefully with his help.

“There’s more work to be done. That’s why I’m not ready for it now,” Larkin said. “There’s more work to be done, in my opinion, and hopefully I can be part of helping that work get done.”  

Which could be a roundabout way of saying, “Once they’re ready to contend again, I’m your guy.’’ Larkin, one of the greatest Reds on the field, is also one of the organization’s best politicians off it.

I have no idea what kind of manager he’d be. He’d be instantly respected and like his erstwhile teammate Aaron Boone, has a nice touch re relating to current players. I’m guessing Larkin might not understand fully the time demands on a manager between February and October.

JOHN HURLEY IS A GUY YOU PROBABLY DON’T KNOW even as he coached 923 college hoops wins at Cincinnati State and UC Clermont. He has written a book titled “Coaching Off-Broadway Basketball’’ in which he makes a strong case for playing solid, fundamental ball.

I interviewed him in 1995, for a piece in Ohio magazine. He was in the middle of a great run at Cincinnati State. He was mopping the gym floor when we spoke. Humble and smart, John was one of those rare coaches whose ego didn’t require nurturing. If you knew him, you knew how good a coach he was, and that was good enough for him.

If you’re a basketball coach, read his book. Learn some things.

TODD HALEY, MEET GREYHOUND BUS. LOVE YA, BEN. . . The Stillers fired the OC yesterday after Roethlisberger claimed he wasn’t allowed to audible out of those two ridiculous calls on 4th and 1 Sunday. That was after Ben said he didn’t call the equally lame fake spike that resulted in a game-deciding L to the Patriots a few weeks earlier.

Ben and Tomlin are less easily replaced than Todd Haley.

FAN MAIL. . .

I love your writing. I really enjoy that you will offer a personal view unafraid of a comment that opposes it.  I am a teacher, coach, husband, parent, beer and coffee lover, have a massive man-crush on Springsteen and LOVE spending Monday morning with my coffee diving into your world

Answer: I just try to be small-part citizen in my columns. I know it infuriates some people, but I’ve been writing personal stuff in the column for 21 seasons. I like doing it.

I didn’t get that letter, or offer that response. That went to SI.com’s football horse, Peter King.

I’m sorry some of you still walk the tired, stale, clichéd Stick To Sports line. But I’m not that sorry. Here’s why:

* It’s insulting. What do you do for a living? Should it preclude you from discussing anything else? What if all of us “stuck to’’ talking about what we did for a living? Wouldn’t that be exciting?

* The Morning Line is never entirely about sports. It’s about golf and cars and music and beer and road trips and family and pets and TV and movies and my pervasive, lamentable cheapness. And yeah, about politics.

* What you’re saying to me is that because you disagree with my politics I am not to talk about my politics. You know nothing of my politics. You who refer to me as “liberal’’ have no idea. You who believe I’m “left-leaning’’ or “bleeding heart’’ have no idea.

* Are you an expert on politics? Or do you just have your opinions? You’re free to share your opinions, and you do. I don’t get the same courtesy?

* From the nature of your e-mails and posts about me on social media, you’d think I talk about politics all the time. I don’t. I almost never do. You would not believe the number of times in any given week I’ve kept my political takes holstered, partly out of respect for your wishes that I shut up.

I ain’t shuttin’ up. TML is roughly 1,500 words a day. A typical, once or twice a month political take is maybe 100 words.

I write 6,000 words a week here, 24,000 a month. Two hundred to 400 concern politics. Four hundred into 24,000 is .017 percent. Less than 2 percent of what I write. Feel free to skip those words and enjoy the rest.

AND WHILE YOU’RE AT IT. . . If you could spare a prayer for Lucy The Wonderdog, I’d be grateful. Her body is arthritic, her legs often betray her, she eats little and drinks less. I’m afraid her next visit to the vet will be her last. Hard times here.

Few things in life hurt worse than saying goodbye to a dog.

BECAUSE TV IS MY LIFE, I recommend watching the Independent Lens episode on PBS that explores the thoughts of activist and author James Baldwin, titled I Am Not Your Negro. Many of Baldwin’s words, spoken well before his death in 1987, resonate today. And that’s a problem.

FUN  WITH THE -ESPONDENTS...

Fun Man Patrick:

Do we have any Brian Regan fans out there?

One of, if not the best clean comics in the business, Brian Regan brings his hilarious show to the Aronoff Center for the Arts next Thursday, January 25th.  Growing up, I would listen to this bit below every single day.  It always brought me to tears and it’s still hilarious.

“Stupid in School”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWzYaZDK6Is

The guy knows how to make you laugh without even considering usage of a curse word.  That’s hard to do.  If you’re interested, you can buy your tickets here.

Any runners out there?

If you’re into it (or looking to change some habits), check out the First Run of 2018 down at Taft’s Ale House from 6:30-9:30 pm this evening.  They welcome new runners to join them and you get to drink beer afterwards.  Doesn’t sound so bad, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6nFhcI4tgI

The N64 buzz was unlike anything I had ever seen at the time.  Everyone wanted one and if you were lucky enough to get one, your video game life changed for the better.  Well, Bogart’s is bringing back the old school this evening with their Mario Kart + Super Smash Bros. Tournament.  Learn more here!

BEERMAN DAVE:

And We're Off

Congratulations to me, I haven't fallen off the wagon yet. Or I guess more accurately I fell off the wagon years ago but didn't screw up my all-to-important resolution. In fact, I visited two new breweries last week, both of which proved to be fantastic. Fibonacci Brewing in Mt Healthy is a perfect neighborhood hang. Despite their modest Nano annual capacity, they continue to expand and hope to have a large outdoor space ready by summer. I cut my teeth on the Dummy Belgian Tripel, which tasted great. The Tollhouse is a solid Stout. Beware of the Tollhouse Caps, which is hotter than a $3 pistol thanks to the addition of Carolina Reaper peppers. It tasted amazing but seriously this is not for the faint of heart. My favorite beer was their Galacto, Brute? Brown Ale, which was chocked full of perfectly balanced toasted malt and light hop. After nearly burning a hole in my face, Brink Brewing in College Hill was there to help put out the flames. The Even Flow Pale Wheat Ale was a perfect palate cleanser. Followed in rapid succession by the Hold The Reins English Mild, Moozie Milk Stout, and Like a Boss West Coast IPA, I was feeling superb. All of the Brink beers had a refinement that elevated them above the typical examples of each style at your neighborhood microbrewery. My beer of the day was definitely their Afterglow NE IPA. Not that I set out to find my IPA of the week, but when it comes to ideal taste profile The Dude Abides. Special thanks to those breweries and beer drinkers that reached out over the last couple weeks to help point me in the right direction. Keep the recommendations coming. Cheers! cincybeerguydave@gmail.com

TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . Marvin Gaye released What’s Going On in 1971 and went from soul crooner to social spokesman overnight. I wonder if his fans then told him to stick to soul. If they did, he didn’t listen. Good for him.