King of the Road: Roadie's Awards

Herve Villechaize | Rick Pitino

(AP Photo/File | Joe Robbins/US Presswire)

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – The event wasn't televised and the crowd was sparse. But the folks who couldn't score a ticket to the Oscars on Sunday found an even better substitute a few blocks away on Sunset Boulevard.

THE ROADIES

Held at an upscale In-N-Out Burger and sponsored by the loyal readers of "King of the Road," the first annual awards show honoring college basketball's best and brightest couldn't have been a bigger hit.

Walking the Ferber rug and conducting interviews with Yahoo! Sports' Ashley Russell were future NBA stars such as Eric Gordon, Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley, who arrived with his mother, Fatima, in the family Hummer.

Ben Howland and Tony Bennett, Bill Self and Billy Gillispie – almost every high-profile coach in the country traveled to Hollywood for the The First Annual Roadies. Except, of course, for Cellvin Sampson, who joined the festivities live via his Motorola.

Hosting the show was the always-vivacious Bruce Pearl. The Tennessee coach was a last-minute replacement for Bob Knight, who quit and went fishing when he couldn't handle the pressures of memorizing the script.

Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski kept things light-hearted by performing the "Soulja Boy" midway though the evening. The only hitch came when Kansas State's Bill "Popcorn" Walker wet himself during Beasley's Player of the Year acceptance speech. But that was nothing new.

Here's a quick rundown of Sunday night's winners at The Roadies:

BEST COSTUME

Louisville coach Rick Pitino won for the white suit he donned in the first half of his team's victory over Georgetown earlier this month. We couldn't tell whether he looked more like Tony Montana, Frank Nitti, Tatu from Fantasy Island or the dude from ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" video. Either way, he looked mahh-velous.

Ogilvy

BEST AUSTRALIAN

Crack open the Vegemite sandwiches and raise your Fosters for a toast to A.J. Ogilvy, the Thunda from Down Unda who's keyed Vanderbilt's 23-4 record. Ogilvy averages 17.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. But even more impressive is that he captured this award despite stiff competition from Washington State's Aron Baynes and St. Mary's Patrick Mills.

Keno Davis

(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

BEST SON

Let's see: There's Tony Bennett at Washington State, Sean Sutton at Oklahoma State, Pat Knight at Texas Tech and John Thompson at Georgetown. A lot of people complain about nepotism in college basketball, but no one can say anything negative about the job Keno Davis has done since taking over for his father, Tom, at Drake. At 24-4, the Bulldogs are one of the best stories of the season.

Gillispie

BEST MAKE-UP

Kentucky fans were none too pleased with first-year coach Billy Gillispie after a 7-9 start that included home losses to Gardner Webb and San Diego. Gillispie, though, has proven over the last two months why he's regarded as one of the top coaches in the country. Kentucky – despite having just three above average players – has won eight of its last nine games and is in second place in the SEC East.

Chalmers

WORST SCREENPLAY

Someone needs to work with Kansas – particularly Mario Chalmers - on its game-tying and game-winning shot attempts. Seriously, did anyone else notice how bad and unorganized the Jayhawks looked on their final possession in losses against Texas (72-69) and Oklahoma State (61-60)? After each defeat, Bill Self said the plan was to set a screen to free up a shooter such as Brandon Rush. Yet each time Chalmers got a case of tunnel vision and ruined the play. Next time a timeout may be the best option.

Hansbrough

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Of all the memorable shots and monster dunks, none stood out quite like the slam North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough threw down against Kenny George, the 7-foot-7 center from UNC-Asheville. George is actually about 7-9 in sneakers, but that didn't stop Hansbrough from soaring over the behemoth for a two-handed jam in the Tar Heels' victory in the Dean Dome on Jan. 9.

Bayless

BEST VICTIM

I can't help but feel a bit sorry for Arizona point guard Jerryd Bayless. The freshman is averaging 21.1 points and 4.4 assists, yet freshmen such as Beasley, O.J. Mayo, Derrick Rose and Eric Gordon are stealing most of the attention. Bayless, though, probably won't care as long as he's among the top 10 players selected in this summer's NBA Draft.

Kevin Love

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

BEST FRESHMAN

Speaking of first-year players, other than Beasley, the freshman who's impressed me the most this season has been UCLA center Kevin Love. Nearly four months after supplanting a senior starter, Love has become the top player on a team that's appeared in two straight Final Fours. Fundamentally, there is no better post player in the country. Too bad we won't get to watch him next year – at least not at the college level.

Barnes

BEST DIRECTOR

Somehow, Texas actually got better after losing the best player in the country (Kevin Durant) to last year's NBA Draft. Credit for that should go to Rick Barnes, who is getting the most out of players who once operated in Durant's shadow. No team will enter the NCAA tournament with a more impressive resume than Texas, which owns victories against Tennessee, UCLA and Kansas.

White

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Not that he's a second-tier player, but Indiana's D.J. White has been the stabilizing force during a crazy season at Indiana. White may not receive as much national hype as standout freshman Eric Gordon, but his 17.1 points and 10.4 rebounds should earn him Big Ten Player of the Year honors. How he responds to Cellvin Sampson's dismissal – both on the court and off of it – will be a huge factor in how Indiana ends the season.

Beasley

BEST ACTOR

Make all the wisecracks you want about Kansas State, but the Wildcats have the Denzel Washington of college basketball in Michael Beasley, who is far and away the game's top player. A freshman, Beasley is averaging 26.2 points and 12.6 rebounds for a Wildcats squad on the verge of its first NCAA tournament berth since 1996. He has 24 double-doubles, but the most impressive thing about B-Easy is that he's resembled anything but a selfish, me-first player.

Sutton

Sean Sutton – Rumors swirled last week that the Oklahoma State coach would be fired at season's end and replaced with Kansas' Bill Self. Sutton's response: A 61-60 victory over Self's then-No. 4 Jayhawks.

Vegas Oddsmakers – One of the most amazing things in sports is how close these guys come with the lines they set. Most people, for instance, thought they were crazy when they pegged K-State as a mere two-point favorite against struggling Nebraska. Guess who won.

Billy Gillispie – If it weren't for Bruce Pearl, Billy G. would have my vote for SEC Coach of the Year. Who would've thought that his team would've won eight of its last nine games after all those early season losses?

KFC Buffet – Never knew the Colonel could be so generous until hunger struck recently in Vancouver, Wash., where I may have become the first person to order the "All You Can Eat" and a side of wings (which weren't included).

"My shoes cost more than your house" – Sorry, readers keep sending in famous Ric Flair quotes, and I couldn't resist printing this one.

Kevin Coble and Kyle McAlarney – Both players had outstanding performances last week that didn't get nearly enough attention. I was on hand for Coble's 37-point outburst for Northwestern against Indiana, and the next day I watched on television as McAlarney swished a school-record nine three-pointers in Notre Dame's victory over Syracuse.

Vanilla Ice

Vanilla Ice – People may think he's a sellout and, yes, he'll never be able to recover from that role in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." But there's not a bar or a club that doesn't go off whenever the first few notes of "Ice Ice Baby" hits the speakers. So he'll always have that going for him, which is nice.

Dan Dakich – Considering the situation, Indiana's interim coach couldn't have done a much better job in victories over Northwestern and Ohio State.

National Sports Grill – Stumbled upon this place during a recent trip to California. Solid, solid sports bar. http://www.nationalsportsgrill.com

Saturday games – Kansas State at Kansas, Washington State at Stanford and St. Mary's at Gonzaga highlight the action. Indiana at Michigan State should a dandy on Sunday.

Vanderbilt Commodores fans celebrate the 72-69 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers on Feb. 26.

(Jim Brown/US Presswire)

Tennessee – Nice job earning that No. 1 ranking, boys. Hope you enjoyed it.

Fresh Mushrooms on Pizza – For some reason I've always preferred canned.

Pittsburgh – With three straight losses, Jamie Dixon's troops are in the middle of a mammoth second half collapse.

Snow – It causes wrecks, coughs, colds, frostbite, wipe-outs, broken hips and "accidents" on your carpet because it's too cold to walk the dog. That's why I don't understand people who say, "Oh, I love it when it snows!" Uh, what's to love?

Cursing in front of kids – Listen, I'm as guilty as anyone of letting things slip sometimes. So I have no problems with cursing in the presence of friends and adults. But for the life of me I can't imagine a scenario where I would scream, "(Expletive) you Chal-mers! (Expletive) you Chal-mers!" at the top of my lungs with a 7-year-old kid sitting in the row in front of me. Yet I see that happening more and more at arenas. One day some kid's father is going to lose his cool and a drunken punk is going to get popped.

Chocolate Skittles – First Spicy Funyuns and now this. Like I've said before, some things just need to be left alone.

Nuts on Clark – Absolutely love this shop in Chicago's Midway Airport. Peanuts, pecans, almonds and cashews. Some covered in chocolate, others seasoned with salts. The only problem is that I walk out of here with so many bags of nuts that they literally turn stale, which is why they're in this category.

Oregon – Despite returning four starters, Oregon is just 15-13 overall and 6-9 in Pac-10 play. Could Ernie Kent be on his way out?

Burger King fries – The Whopper is one of my favorite all-time sandwiches, but it's amazing how many times I pass this place up because I absolutely despise their French fried potatoes.

People who don't wash their gym clothes – Ever been on a treadmill when someone starts running next to you, and it's obvious that person didn't wash his workout gear from the time before? Don't know about you, but having to inhale that nasty odor screws up my breathing, which is kind of important when you're running. Have some tact, people.

USA's Jennie Finch throws a pitch in a World Cup of Softball game against Canada in Oklahoma City in 2007.

(AP Photo/Ty Russell)

When it comes to sheer beauty, there may not be a female athlete in history who can match Jennie Finch, a 6-foot-1 hurler for the Olympic Softball team. Still, as attractive as she may be, what sets Finch apart is the way she has dominated her sport since her college days at Arizona.

A three-time All-American, Finch won an NCAA record 60 straight games for the Wildcats before her graduation in 2002. She then helped the USA Olympic team win the gold medal in 2004, and now she's hoping for a repeat in Beijing this summer. The event will have extra meaning for Finch and her teammates, who were stunned to learn that softball will be discontinued as an Olympic sport after 2008.

Finch – who has appeared on "This Week in Baseball" and "The Apprentice" – is married to pro baseball player Casey Daigle. The couple has a son, Ace, who will be 2 in May.

KOTR: According to the tour schedule, ya'll are going to play more than 60 games in the next five months – in 45 different cities. How draining is all of that travel?
JENNIE: Sometimes we feel like a rock band, being in a different city every other night. It's definitely taxing, but we do our best with it. We know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so we have to take advantage of it. Playing games is what we need. We're only seven months away from the Olympic Games. You can't get any better preparation than this.

KOTR: Plus, as tiring as it may be, I've got to think it's also a lot of fun.
JENNIE: Oh, without question. Nothing rejuvenates you like walking into a stadium filled with 6,000 fans, including thousands of little girls chanting USA. It's a lot of fun.

KOTR: What was your reaction upon learning that softball wouldn't be a part of the Olympics beyond 2008?
JENNIE: It was like a knife to the heart. I think we're still in shock. We can't believe softball won't be a part of the Olympics in 2012. The sport is at an all-time high. Each year it just gets bigger and better. It's just amazing that this is happening.

We still haven't heard a valid reason as to why we were taken out. At this point we just have to focus on using the 2008 Games to showcase how great our sport is so we can hopefully get it back in 2016.

KOTR: Does the situation make you approach the Olympics any differently? Perhaps with a chip on your shoulder?
JENNIE: The Olympics is such a huge thing. We would've approached it with the utmost intensity either way. Still, there's a feeling of 'This could be it for softball in the Olympics.'

the cast for Celebrity Apprentice. Pictured: (back row l-r) Merilu Henner, Piers Morgan, Nelly Galan, Trace Adkins, Gene Simmons, Carol Alt, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Jennie Finch, Lennox Lewis, Tito Ortiz, Vinnie Pastore, (bottom row l-r) Omorosa, Stephen Baldwin, Donald Trump, Tiffany Fallon, Nadia Comeneci.

(AP Photo/ NBC, Justin Stephens)

KOTR: How much do you worry about the effect this could have on the elementary and high school-aged kids who play softball?
JENNIE: It's definitely a concern. The 1996 Olympics really put our sport on the map. When young girls are trying to choose between soccer and softball and they see that soccer is an Olympic sport and softball isn't, will they choose soccer? I don't know. Hopefully not. Hopefully we can get a pro league going strong. Plus, the college game is at an all-time high. The opportunity is there. We just have to keep it going.

KOTR: You were a recent contestant on the hit TV show "The Apprentice." What was that experience like?
JENNIE: I loved the opportunity. I loved being there and getting to know the other members and being around Donald Trump. It was fun to try to hang in New York City.

KOTR: You're a California girl who went to school at Arizona. How big of a change was New York?
JENNIE: I love New York. I don't know if I would ever want to stay longer than a week or two. But I love to visit. It's non-stop and full of energy. It's so diverse. Great food, great people, great entertainment.

KOTR: Gotta ask: New York thin crust or Chicago deep dish?

JENNIE: (Laughing) My pro team is out of Chicago. I like the thick crust, so I'll have to go with Chicago.

USA's Jennie Finch holds the 2007 World Cup of Softball championship trophy, and her son, Ace Daigle, 14 months, on July 16, 2007.

(AP Photo)

KOTR: In May of 2006 you gave birth to your first child, Ace. Describe what it's like to be a mother.
JENNIE: There's never been a greater feeling than having my son and being able to experience motherhood. It's a love like no other. It's an unexplainable feeling and it continues to get better. You feel this love inside that you never even knew was there.

KOTR: Has the situation affected your career?
JENNIE: I'm so glad that I'm able to be a mom and still play. In the past people would think that there's no way. Once you got married you had kids and that was it. Thanks to the ambassadors before me, like Leah O'Brien in 2004, I think it hit us like, 'Wow, we can really do this. We can juggle it.' USA Softball has been very accepting as far as allowing us to travel with the kids. It's been a fun ride.

KOTR: So Ace is traveling with you and the team?
JENNIE: Yes, my husband (Casey Daigle) plays baseball, so I really don't have a choice. I don't think I'd want it any other way, though. I'm lucky to have my mom or my mother-in-law or my aunt travel with us. It's been good for the entire family.

KOTR: You mentioned your husband. Does it help being married to an athlete who may be able to relate to what you're going through and vice-versa.
JENNIE: We definitely understand each other a lot more, the game and that kind of thing. At the same time it can make it even more tough working around each other's schedules. We're so honored to do what we do. It's a pretty cool thing.

It's funny, though, because people think we talk baseball and softball so much. But I bet people that are married to non-athletes probably talk about the game more than we do. We both understand that, when we're around each other, it's our time away from the game and that we need to enjoy our lives off the field.

KOTR: What are your plans after the Olympics?
JENNIE: I'm not sure. Right now I'm looking forward to being a wife and a mom. But I definitely want to help the national pro fastpitch league get going. Hopefully I can be a big factor in that.

I've always said that the best thing about having a gold medal is being able to share it. I like to put it on young girls so they can set goals and dream. Anything I can do to be a positive influence and to keep them active in softball is fine with me.

PREVIOUS SPICY DISHES
Amber Campisi | Danni Boatwright | Jana Kramer | Torrie Wilson | Allie LaForce | Cacee Cobb

Stick a fork in me. I'm done. Seriously, folks, next week – if there is a next week – I may end up writing a review of Souper Salad or Luby's or any place else I can find that doesn't make me feel like a complete sloth.

Those were the thoughts that entered my mind on Monday as I walked out of Hinkle's Hamburgers in Bloomington, Ind.

Don't get me wrong. Hinkle's is good. Almost too good. In fact, as I hunched over a corner table and ate, part of me was prepared to say that their double-cheeseburger was the best I'd consumed in my career. But then I thought I'd better make sure, so I ordered another one.

I found out about Hinkle's through my close friend and former Kansas City Star colleague, Jason Whitlock. Along with sharing many of the same opinions about journalism, Jason and I also see eye-to-eye when it comes to food, which is probably why most of our conversations occur at restaurants.

(A quick story about Jason: Just as I'm addicted to wings, Jason can't control himself when it comes to peanuts. But, hey, at least he tries. Not long ago, as we were having a conversation in his living room, Jason rose from his chair and began digging through his trash can. Just as I'm about to ask him what in the hell he's doing, Jason pulls out a half-full bottle of peanuts and starts going to town. "I was hoping I'd forget they were in there," he said.)

Anyway, back to Hinkle's. The burgers here aren't huge – probably about twice the size as a slider from White Castle – which explains why I was able to eat two with ease. What makes them so good is that the heavily tattooed cook mixes onions into the meat as he's preparing the hamburger patty. Each meal is served steaming hot, with the cheese dripping off the patty by the time the food hits the table. Add some pickles and a dash of mustard, and you've got a little slice of heaven, right there in Bloomington, Ind.

Aside from the burgers, my favorite part about Hinkle's was the cute little lady that seemed to be running the joint. "You're not driving, are ya?" she said when I went back for round two. "I can't believe you're making me clean these tables all by myself," she said as I ate. The woman even has a sign above the counter: "This isn't Burger King. You don't get it your way. You take it my way or you don't get the damn thing!"

No problem, ma'm. No problem at all.

Grace

Other than Nancy Grace, not many things in life annoy me. But you wouldn't have guessed that a few nights ago at Arizona's sports bar in Kansas City. As if watching my Baylor Bears blow a seven-point overtime lead against Oklahoma wasn't bad enough, my buddy, Brett Hunter, called my attention to an even more repulsive sight.

A girl eating wings with a fork.

We tried our best to keep quiet, but eventually Brett and I had to vocalize our displeasure. You don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off of Zorro and you don't, under any circumstance, eat wings with a fork. Period.

Anyway, the whole fork issue sparked a lively conversation at our table about "Wing Pet Peeves." Here are a few of mine:

1. If you're only going to take one or two bites off of each wing, then order something else. I can't explain how irritating it is for a wing-lover to look at someone's plate and see half-eaten drummies, with hunks of chicken and other residue hanging from the bone. Seriously: Come to play, or don't come at all.

2. I can't stand small wings. If you're a cook or a waitress, don't even bring them to the table. Last night I ordered 12 wings at a certain "chain" restaurant not named Hooters, and four of them were no bigger than my pinky finger. It's not that they taste bad, but no one likes leaving hungry – or feeling ripped-off.

3. What's with all these restaurants charging for blue cheese and, in some cases, celery? It makes you want to find a manager and say, "Hey, guy. Business really that bad?" Pretty soon they'll be asking us to pay for the Wet-Naps we use to wash the sauce off our hands. Maybe it's just me, but I'd think that ensuring that a customer had an enjoyable experience would, in the long run, go way further than the 50 cents the restaurant demanded for its dipping sauce.

4. Spicy garlic is fine. So are chili lime, Cajun and teriyaki. I'm all for different types of flavors and sauces when it comes to wings – unless it involves honey. Sorry, kids, but wings are not supposed to be sweet. All these "honey-glazed" and "honey bbq" wings have got to go.

5. False advertising. Unless there is something original about your bird, don't hail your establishment as a "wing place." There's nothing worse than walking into a place like BuffaLouie's in Bloomington or Jefferson's in Lawrence, only to find the same, run-of-the-mill wings they have at any sports bar. To truly tout yourself as a wing establishment, the wings need to have some character. Are they big, are they grilled, are they big and grilled? Whaddya got?

Cinnamon Toast Crunch – One of the few reasons I sometimes get up early enough to eat breakfast.

Banana Cream Pie Blizzards – The nilla wafers are a nice touch. Satisfies my once-a-month hankering for Dairy Queen.

Grape Fanta – I'm usually a strawberry guy, but this was the only flavor they had at White Castle a few nights ago. What a delicious surprise.

Spaghetti and Meatballs – Forget rigatoni, ravioli, cannaloni and all that other fancy stuff that sounds the same. Sometimes, at places like Carraba's and Olive Garden, you've got to go basic.

Almonds – Go to Sam's or Costco and buy one of the economy-sized jars. A top notch, "healthy" snack – as long as you can limit yourself to a handful or three.

THIS WEEK'S FOOD POLL

They serve teriyaki bowls at UCLA, wings at Northwestern and "walking tacos" at Missouri. I swore I saw a funnel cake at USC and there were candied nuts at Louisville. Still, as creative as college concession stands have become, sometimes it's fun to go back to the basics. I'm a nachos with peppers fan. How about you?

LAST WEEK'S FOOD POLL RESULTS

BEST BAR FOOD
Cheese Fries – 31%
Mozzarella Sticks – 23%
Nachos – 18%
Jalapeno Poppers – 14%
Chips and Salsa – 10%
Mini-Corn Dogs – 4%

1. The more I watch Kansas, the more pessimistic I get about the Jayhawks' chances of reaching the Final Four. When it comes to talent and depth, KU may be the best team in the country. But Bill Self's squad has lost its swagger. The Jayhawks' guards have been a major disappointment – especially on the defensive end – and nagging injuries to Sherron Collins certainly haven't helped. Forward Darrell Arthur continues to be foul prone, which is huge considering he's Kansas' best player. The one prediction I'll make is that Brandon Rush will break out of the slump that has limited him the past few weeks. Rush knows his time as a collegian is nearing its end, and he's ready to make the most of his final few games while improving his plummeting draft status. He may be Kansas' only hope.

2. As much fun as I have traveling, my job at Yahoo! Sports also causes me to miss out on some fun stuff back in Kansas City. The latest example is last week's Kid Rock concert at the Sprint Center. I'm a huge Kid Rock fan. I never get tired of the song "Cowboy" and I think "Wasting Time" is one of the more underrated cuts of the last decade.

3. The NCAA tournament is three weeks away, and it looks as if I'll be spending the first weekend in Omaha and the second in Phoenix. Other than the 1 a.m. alcohol cutoff, Omaha is a great town with a good bar and restaurant district and a casino nearby. But I'm far from an expert when it comes to Phoenix, so any tips would be greatly appreciated.

4. Not long ago I used this space to praise a DVD called "The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling." Now I've found a better one. "The Heroes of World Class" is available on amazon.com and is a must-see for any old-school fan. Along with plenty of match footage, the DVD features candid interviews with the likes of Mark Lowrance, Bill Mercer and Gary Hart and even includes footage of Kevin Von Erich visiting the run-down Sportatorium shortly before its demolition. The deaths of Bruiser Brody, Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez are also covered in great detail.

5. Speaking of wrestling – and basketball – Brian Pfohl, the son of former WWF star Lex Lugar, is averaging 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds for Mercer. He's started all 28 games for the 11-17 Bears.

6. The All-American team will be announced soon and, in my opinion, four of the five spots will be occupied by Michael Beasley (Kansas State), Kevin Love (UCLA), Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina) and Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis). As far as the fifth and final spot, I'm still having trouble deciding between Notre Dame's Luke Harangody and Texas' D.J. Augustin.

7. A few weeks ago I gave you a random list of male celebrities (Ice Cube, Chevy Chase, Kamala, Vince Neil and Christopher "Big Black" Boykin) and asked which one you'd like me to interview. I expected most of you to vote for Chase, but thus far the leaders in the clubhouse are Kamala and Big Black. Unless you have a sudden change of heart, I'll begin making the necessary contacts.

8. A dangerous thing happened to me on a trip to Chicago last week: I stayed at a hotel that was next door to Giordano's pizza parlor and across the street from White Castle. Needless to say, I visited both establishments. White Castle was particularly satisfying, considering I hadn't had one of their sliders in about a year. I'd forgotten how good this place was, and I stumbled upon a gem when I ordered a few of their chicken and cheese sandwiches. It's probably a good thing they don't have a White Castle – or a Jack in the Box, Whataburger or Taco Cabana – in Kansas City. That just wouldn't be healthy.

9. Nothing is more discouraging and disheartening then going to lift weights after you've taken a few weeks off. Seriously, it's not fair. You endure months and months of grueling workouts and finally build up some considerable strength. Then you miss just a few training sessions and it's all gone, so you start over. The one thing getting me by is the fact that I downloaded some new songs on my iPod.

10. Speaking of workout music, there are few songs that always help get me started at the beginning of a long run: "Can't Truss It" by Public Enemy, "Ladies and Gentlemen" by Saliva, "Natural Born Killaz" by Dr. Dre and Ice Cube and "Stranglehold" by Ted Nugent.

Jason - I also usually only drink Diet Coke. And I agree that a 'regular' every once in awhile tastes pretty damn good. Something I've heard about from a few other fellow Diet Coke consumers -but have never tried - is that when you order a fountain Coke, get half-diet and half-regular. Ever try that? Love King of the Road! Keep up the great work! -
Mark, Lawrence, Kan.

KOTR: Back in the fifth grade, my friends and I thought we were cool when we ordered 'suicides' from the White Rock Skating Rink concession stands. If my recollection is correct, the drink was a mixture of Coke, Sprite, Dr Pepper and Root Beer. Surely your suggestion will taste better than that. I'll give it a whirl.

Jason – I just got done reading your King of the Road column where you mention your stats (6-1, 210) and your training schedule. I'm similar to you physically (6-2, 225) and I run but not as much as you do weekly. Anyways, just wondering what kind of running shoes you use and what kind of times you're doing per mile on workout runs. Keep up the solid writing. -
Carlos, San Juan, Puerto Rico

KOTR: Glad you like the column, Carlos. New Balance is the only running shoe for me, and when things are going well I probably average about an 8 minute, 30 second mile over five miles. Put me in that San Juan heat, though, and I may be a tad slower.

Jason – You may have actually gained a little bit of credibility back due, in part, to the fact that you like Frank's Hot Sauce. Having grown up in Buffalo, I know first hand what a real chicken wing should taste like, and the hot sauce of choice for the majority of the wing joints in Buffalo is Frank's. As for your interview with Cacee Cobb … she is flipping gorgeous. I think she should replace Jessica Simpson and Simpson should be Cobb's personal assistant. Anyways, I do not want my e-mail to sound disparaging because I actually love your work and read it religiously every week. -
Jason Larish, Tucson, Ariz.

KOTR: I actually put Frank's in my Cinnamon Toast Crunch last week and loved it. Just kidding, but it's not a bad idea. The Spicy Dish interview with Cacee was easily the most popular one to date. She asks that I pass along a heartfelt "thank you" to everyone that offered up kind words. We'll check back with her every month or so.

(AP Photo)

Jason – Is this a basketball column? When did the bulk of a feature column on Yahoo's college basketball page become dominated by an inane interview with the personal assistant for Jessica Simpson? Seriously, dude, write about sports when you're writing for a sports column. I'm not sure why anyone would give a rat's ass about your thoughts on hot wings, mediocre '80s films, fast food and celebrity gossip. Your column is a shining turd among college hoops reporting. -
The Big Crunch, Washington D.C.

KOTR: Boy, this guy sounds like a barrel of laughs, doesn't he? Bet he's the center of attention at the bar each night. In all seriousness, I went to his "Myspace" page and Tom was his only friend. Um, Mr. Crunch, if you hated the column so much, why did you keep reading? But, seriously, thanks for saying the article shines among college hoop reporting.

Dude – There's a lot of players who could put up numbers like Tyler (Hansbrough) if they got that calls that he gets. If NCAA officials would call the game according to the rules of basketball – rather than the rules of the NBA Thug League – the idiot would foul out of every game! Yet somehow he never has more than two fouls called on him. What a (expletive) joke! I wish him nothing but failure in the Thug League. The guy is an idiot. How about giving credit to a player who's actually worth it! You're obviously as clueless as those officials are! -
Joe

KOTR: Joe, ease up one those exclamation points. You're scaring me, guy.

Jason – OK, the Lord of the Wings pieces keep coming, and all I'm seeing is The Peanut this and The Lazy Dog that. GET TO BUFFALO ALREADY! I know it's the middle of the college basketball season, but aren't you allowed to come up here for a Niagara or a Canisius game? -
Rocco Russo, Buffalo, New York

KOTR: ROCCO RUSSO! The MVP of the all-name team is back, folks! I won't be making it to Buffalo for a game, Rocco – although I don't see why not, considering I just covered Northwestern – but don't worry. A wing-eating tour of your hometown is in the works for this spring or summer, and you can be the honorary tour guide. Also planning to write KOTR columns from Las Vegas and the College World Series.

Cobb

Jason – How does a nerdy journalism major like yourself kick it with bombshells like Cacee Cobb in college? Either your current picture doesn't do you justice (no offense) or Cacee has a soft place in her heart for earnest young men with affinities for wings. In any event, any tips for the less brazen? -
Austere, Atlanta

KOTR: Yeah, here's one: Change your name. "Austere" just isn't going to cut it (no offense). Oh, and if you think Cacee is hot (which she is, by the way) you should see my wife.