Welcome to a concerned edition of the Friday Feedback in which I worry bosses might want me to call local sports shops to check on the sales of Milwaukee Bucks apparel even though the real story is the rise in Milwaukee’s Best sales. And, wait a second, did Joe Alexander just find a nickname?

In the end, it was a wonderful, though needlessly stressful day for the Alexanders, who were at least rattled by an afternoon trade the Bucks made with the New Jersey Nets and had Alexander worrying he might not end up where he wanted to go.

As it turns out, Milwaukee was just making room for WVU’s first first-round pick since 1968.

Onto the Feedback. And in honor of Alexander … as always, comments appear as posterized… I mean as posted. There is, indeed, joy in Morgantown, Mr. Raftery.

Sam said:

Forget Armand Basset…

Xavier just landed Charles Bronson! How can anybody compete with that?!?!

It appears WVU has passed on Arman Bassett and that Bronson passed on Xavier … but, hey, it gives us a reason to cheer for Pikeville!

StraightOuttaNorthCentral said:

as i read his answers, i can almost imagine Joe having little epiphanies about himself; the same sense of wonder and surprise he might have had the first time he realized “holy crap, i’m pretty good!” except, now it’s “holy crap, not only am i really good, but i’m pretty unique, i have a backstory and a message. i offer things that no one else in this draft offers. i offer things that very few other players in the league can offer.” whether what Joe offers ends up being worth what he’ll end up making in the NBA, we’ll have to see. but it has been fun to watch.  

Forget about his measurements and workouts and athleticism and upside. The best thing about Alexander and the pre-draft experience, particularly in the last week, was how he portrayed himself as a person. The kid — excuse me — the man is so smart and funny and engaging and he needed to show that. Everyone knew he worked hard and worked a lot, but there’s a personality behind that and he owed it to himself to share that with everyone. And that’s the end of the Alexander admiration. Promise.

Mack said:

WVU not having a first round pick since 1968 just shows how good Gale Catlett was at keeping his players from the “politics of the NBA.”

I can’t add much to this other than to say I spilled coffee on the space bar when I first read it. Bravo.

JX said:

To me th biggest question about Mountaineer Basketball 08/09 is: Will John Flowers be able to continue to get his Magical Headband (and its Mythical Powers) to defy gravity?

Sure, Joey Maz handling the pressure of running the team full time is big. And, sure, Ebanks stepping into the void that Joe leaves is huge. And, of course, Wellington Smith being able to BRING IT every game, all game is gonna also be a factor. But I, for one, feel the ENTIRE SEASON rests on the power of my man John Flowers Magical Headband and its Mythical Powers.

/but, then again, i’ve been known to have fits of hyperbole and a touch of clinical insanity.  

A touch? Although, I’ll say it’s worth two points a game. The first time Flowers goes to the basket, the defender inevitably gets caught spying the headband and wondering how he does it. 

Josh said:

“we return arguably the best quarterback in the (Big East),” Kelly said

Have some more Crack, Mr. Kelly.

Here’s how the argument went:

Kelly: Ben, I think you’re the best quarterback in the Big East.
Mauk: Coach, stop it. No one is going to believe that.

That said, wouldn’t you like that guy as your coach? He’s just crazy — and successful — enough to rally around. I like him and I’d love to see the interactions he has with UC hoops coach Mick Cronin, who is equally volatile. What a mix they have there, where you’ll remember Bob Huggins, whose pulse hasn’t risen above 48 since he’s been in Morgantown, was seen as problematic.

glibglub said:

So Ben Mauk has a plated and screwed broken leg on top of his profound shoulder injury? Good Lord, if I were him, I’d want out of football while I still had one good upper extremity and one good lower extremity.

The only reason the NCAA heard the appeal was because Mauk developed severe carpal tunnel while preparing the paperwork.

thacker said:

I may not agree with Kelly but I can damn sure appreciate and understand his opinion and will damn sure stand beside him when he makes it. Guys like Mauk are one of the reasons the Big East is the Big East. Mauk is a guy who could lose both his arms and he would find a way to take the snap and carry the ball with his teeth. They don’t quit — ever. Yeah. The BIG East.

No question, dude’s a warrior. He put that team on his back in a bunch of games last year and threw it around until the Bearcats won. He’s got a different appeal than White, but it’s still pretty fun to watch. The NCAA, by the way, still hasn’t ruled.

Eric said:

If this case is not settled until after this season–which looks more and more likely–Rodriguez will be cheering hard for WVU this year. If the Stewart-era Mountaineers win 10-11 games and a BCS bowl, he can really say; “See! No damage was done to the program. $4 million in damages is ridiculous.” However, if WVU has a few losses and falls to San Diego State in the General Mills Lucky Charms Bowl, then all he has to say is “make this check payable to who?”

The internal battle between Rodriguez’ ego and his financial interests will be epic. You just know he wants WVU to fail without him to prove to the world that its all him, always was and always will be. But that failure his ego so badly needs would cost him a couple years salary. Sort of has a win-win feel to me.

Good points and, as best as I can tell, the first paragraph is a component to the litigation process. In short, liquidated damages are an agreed-upon amount that compensates one side for how it has suffered as the result of the other side breaking a contract. Remember, WVU has boasted this gee-whiz coaching staff and unprecedented recruiting success. If you take that and add a great season on the field and at the cash register, it might be harder to argue WVU suffered to the tune of $4 million. The second paragraph is spot on and (still need an adjective) President Mike Garrison’s deposition is said to contain some rather revealing opinions Rodriguez had about WVU.

jmbwvu said:

Eric, I hear what you’re saying but the contract does not say RR will not pay the buyout if WVU achieves a certain level of success in following years. The no damage done to the program arguement could be a good defense if there was not a signed contract. That $4M figure is a penalty, a liquidated damage for not fulfilling the terms of the contract. My two cents.

I was talking w/ some people at Petroplus today and it triggered a thought. The BoG are the ones who sued RR. If certain members of the BoG are ousted along w/ Garrison or have terms that expire before the suit is resolved I wonder how this will affect the BoG stance w/ regards to their lawsuit. There could be a scenario where new BoG members come on board who are more inclined to side w/ RR and persuade the BoG to settle for a much lesser amount than the previous members would have. I’m not sure how this would work, but it’s got me thinking.

OK, another two-paragraph analysis, but another that’s worth it. Let’s begin with the second paragraph: As I’m told, it is the BoG as an entity and not specific people who are suing Rodriguez. Remember, it’s the BoG that has the contract with Rodriguez. First paragraph: That, too, is the essence of the litigation and from the outset WVU has said this very thing again and again. Rodriguez signed a contract and … well, that’s about it. Now, what you have to remember here — and my mom should be proud I know so much about lawsuits without ever going to law school … or being involved in a case — is that a contract cannot have punitive damages. A contract cannot be designed to penalize one side for exiting the agreement because one side cannot prevent the other from a breach. People make breach sound so bad, but it’s not illegal. Rodriguez is arguing he was fraudulently induced into signing the contract, but they haven’t made much about the principle of punitive damages and that $4 million is a big-time penalty. And this is relevant. Very relevant, in fact, because the same WVU attorney who flat-out grilled Rodriguez’s agent, Mike Brown, during his deposition is Robert Fitzsimmons, who represented former basketball Coach John Beilein as he shaved $1 million off his buyout. How did Fitzsimmons do that? He argued it was a punitive damage and that $2.5 million was neither fair nor equal to the amount WVU suffered in losing Beilein and replacing him with Bob Huggins while losing no players or recruits. I still find it fascinating Fitzsimmons is working for WVU and can’t believe a bigger deal is not being made of it. 

Shannon said:

That is all but a knockout punch for WVU. I can’t see how Rodriguez and his team rebound from this. Rodriguez should settle not just because its the right thing to do, but because I doubt he would want this hanging over his head come the first weeks of training camp. Talk about a distraction if you’re trying to prepare your new team for the first time for the season ahead and you’re still in a legal battle with the team you left behind. The high school nerd has more options for a prom date than Rodriguez has at winning this case now.  

He doesn’t care and he’ll believe he’s entirely capable of separating one from the other. In truth, I included this because of the analogy at the end. Well played, sir.

By the way, how long until I’m in Sunnyside listening to a band called Liquidated Damages? It can’t be long, right?  

Eric said:

Ugh. Here come all the “leatherface” and “shiny gold pants” jabs to Rita. We WV fans will surely make ourselves look intelligent in the comments for that article. Some of the ones there are quite comical, but still … We probably should just give it a rest

I have to say I prefer comparisons to a Lhasa Apsa.
http://69.90.174.253/photos/display_pic_with_logo/5990/5990,1115071858,10.jpg

Oh, come on. They look nothing alike. 

 thacker said:

Good bye, Mr. Walker. Please do not let the door hit you ……………..

——

There is only one superbly capable, qualified and ‘right’ candidate for the job as the university’s next Athletic Director. Mr. Jerry Alan West.

When the Logo is the A.D., you can thank thacker. He’s going to make this happen. I can see it.

oklahoma mountaineer said:

I know he’s “retired”, but the Logo would be a GREAT choice…..and he can watch his son’s college career at the same time.

Probably would not be wondering how/why RRod is in Michigan…..and Mike Brown would probably not his representative.

That’s two votes for Mr. West. You know who else got two votes?

Erinn said:

Mike, seriously, retire the typewriter and apply for the job.

Typewriter?

Christie said:

Cazz for Athletic Director…or at least some real position within WVU Atheletics…bring back the ethics…please!

I vote for the latter.

Josh24601 said:

Rich Rodriguez! Bray Cary has his number.

First off, this isn’t a new idea and it’s not the last you’re going to hear of it. And you know what number Bray Cary has? He says 65-percent of the feedback to his interview with Rodriguez was positive. Hey, did you know the interview was exclusive?

Economic Friction said:

Jim Schaus. No doubt about it.

 Now, that’s a good idea.

JP said:

I hear Mike Garrison is looking for a job.

Enjoy the weekend and revel in the fact it’s been 23 days since a WVU athlete was arrested!