Welcome to the G-Man’s Blog!

After a summer of writer’s block, I’m back and publishing. I can’t believe that teams have started to practice and my first game is only three weeks away. The weather has barely turned cool, but I’m definitely ready for hoops to begin.

I’ve had a great last month, beginning with a special trip to Houston. My friend and teammate, Kenny Dennard, threw himself a bash celebrating the 25th anniversary of his successful cancer surgey. The names and events will be kept secret to protect the innocent( what happens in Houston, never happens!) but suffice it to say that it will never be duplicated. Thanks to E. and Turtle for all the nice touches!

I recently made a trip back home to Connectcut to be inducted into the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame. Other inductees include Bruce Jenner, Dorothy Hamill, Steve Young, Bill Toomey and Calvin Murphy. I was honored to have my high school coaches, Bob Baroni and Dave Strong, in attendance as well as teammates Gene Cayer, Wayne Lambert and Brian Gagner. My family was represented by my cousins Marilynn and Janice. It could not have been a more special night and I thought about people and events that have not crossed my mind in 30 years.

The latest and best news is that our family has grown with the addition of Zeus, a beautiful 9 week- old chocolate lab. We put our 16 year old lab, Duchess, down in December and it was time to have another heartbeat back in the house. Our breeder lives in Waxhaw, NC. Go to their web site- www.circleoflifedogtraining.com  It is a great operation as Charlie and Sandy raise their pups to work with autistic children. We look forward to many happy moments with Zeus as he grows.

I’ll check in next week with word from Operation Basketball  and give some previews for each team on the site…It’s good to be back…

I’ve had an incredible last couple of weeks starting with my 30th appearance at the Duke Children’s Classic, a golf tournament in Durham that raises millions for the Duke Children’s Hospital. I started visiting the children in the pediatric cancer ward when I was an undergraduate and have supported their cause ever since.

We are fortunate to have Jeff Foxworthy as our honorary chairman for the last 10 years and he has brought some incredible talent to the event. The weekend starts with Jeff’s Comedy Club on Friday night. Over the years such stars as Lewis Black, Ron White, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall have performed. Jeff also brings a musical guest for Saturday and this year it was Dierks Bentley. He brought his two guitarists with him and performed all of his hits unplugged. It was great to see him in an intimate venue and the evening was capped off for me when I got to meet him after the show. It was great to hear that he had spent two or three hours that day visiting with children at the hospital.

My country music introductions continued that week. For those of you who don’t know, I co-host Prime Time with the Packman once a week on WFNZ in Caharlotte with Mark Packer. This past Wednesday, it was our pleasure to have Miranda Lambert in studio. She was visiting a country station in the same building and graciously dropped by the show. She talked about her music and her passion for bow hunting. She was delightful to talk to ( and not hard on the eyes!) and was kind enough to give me a copy of her new cd ” Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”.

My musical journey ended this past Friday when I had the chance to see my good friend Branford Marsalis perform at the Visulite Theater in Charlotte with The Derek Trucks Band. Derek is the son of Butch Trucks, founding drummer for the Allman Brothers. Derewk now perfoms with the Allman Brothers Band as well an is one of the best Slide guitarists on the planet. I had trouble imagining what these two would sound like but the combination of Branford’s horn and Derek’s slide was incredible. I had the good fortune to hang out with them in Derek’s bus before the show and enjoyed meeting and talking with him. Branford now lives in Durham and we have developed a nice friendship over the last couple of years.

Every two years, I offer two seven course dinners for twelve at my house as an auction item for the Charlotte Wine and Food Weekend. Both took place this past weekend and were both a huge success. Bob Foley, a premier vinter from Napa Valley, and his wife Kelly came to Charlotte and took part in the cooking as well. I thought I would share the wines and menu with you.

Hors D’ouvres- Oysters with bacon and balsamic beurre blanc, Osetra Caviar with buckwheat blinis, and Chili-rubbed smoked prawns w/ BBQ hollandaise sauce. These were served with Pascal Doquet Brut Rose Premier cru champagne.

1st course-Seared Foie Gras w/ cherry-cranbewrry confit  served with Pride Mistelle de Viognier.

2nd course- Cauliflower soup w/ Scallop and caviar served with the 2005 Pride Chardonnay.

3rd course-Tuna tartare with asian spices served with the 2006 Robert Foley Pinot Blanc.

4th course- Black Truffle Risotto served with 1999 Pride Sangiovese and the 2003 Foley Charbono.

5th course-Antelope tenderloin w/ sun-dried cranberry glaze and truffled grit cakes served with the 2004 Switchback Ridge Merlot and the 2004 Pride Cab Franc.

6th course- Fig Balsamic glazed Duck breast with pearl onion,potato and pear hash served with the 2003 School House Pinot Noir.

This was followed by a tasting of the 2004 Switchback Ridge Cabernet and the 2004 Foley Claret.

I’m very proud of the fact that all of the food is prepared and cooked by me and my good friend John Wallace from Charleston. Bob and Kelly donate all the wines and their presence makes this an extraordinary weekend. My thanks to all who help during the weekend- Chuck and Pam, Jimmy and Lauren, Johnny and Kay, June, Grant and Merry, Kariann and Mike, Eve, and our special guest helpers Steve and Milvia and Andy and Rich.Lastly, thanks to my wife Stacy for making the house look like a dream.

I cannot believe it has been 29 years since our appearance in the final four back in 1978.That realization having sunk in, I still remember many great moments from that weekend with great clarity-including Jack Givens dropping 41 points on us in the finals! It was still the highlight of my basketball career because, playing in that game, you realize you’re the only two Division I teams left playing. What an awesome experience.

While I like the aspect of a Cinderella team, I am looking forward to these four heavyweights teeing it up this weekend. There are so many great storylines to follow with all four squads and all four have a legitimate chance to win.Here is how I see the matchups.

Florida-UCLA- what a testament to both programs to have made it back to the final four. People don’t realize how difficult it is just to get back,let alone repeat as champions. Ben Howland has done a great job at UCLA, turning them into a tenacious defensive squad. Their perimeter game is improved with point guard Darren Collison as the catalyst. He is a great penetrator and was named Defensive player of the year. Josh Shipp has rebounded from injury and been solid and Arron Afflalo is a big time performer. In the end I think the game will be closer than last year’s final, but Florida’s interior willl be too much. Horford and Noah are great in the open floor as well as half court and UCLA has no one to contain them.The only thing that could hurt Florida is if UCLA cuts down transition baskets and packs it in on defense. If the Gators aren’t connecting from long range, things could get interesting down the stretch.I still see the Gators advancing.

Ohio St.-Georgetown- What a classic matchup between two true low post players in Greg Oden and Roy Hibbert. Whoever establishes a physical presence first will have a big edge in how this duel goes. I think that Ohio St. will play more zone to both protect Oden and disrupt the Princeton-style offense of Georgetown. This will put more pressure on the perimeter of the Hoyas, namely Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp. The key for the Hoyas will be to get an early lead and force Ohio St. to chase them on the perimeter, opening up lanes to the basket. In the end, I think Mike Conley Jr. could be the difference for the Buckeyes. He gets to the rim better than any player in the country right now and could open up looks for Ron Lewis on the outside. The matchup nightmare for Ohio St. will be Jeff Green.He makes big plays at both ends and can win games without Hibbert. In a close game, I give a slight edge to Ohio St. to advance.

However it shakes out, I still think that Monday’s final will be the best in years. I have stuck with the Gators to repeat from the first of the year and see no reason to change my mind now. What a great story it would be for the sport of college basketball to see the commitment to return and defend their title rewarded for this group. I believe the Gators will cut down the nets and be the first repeat champion since Duke did it in ‘91 and ‘92.

It has been a hectic last couple of weeks for me but, at the same time, my most enjoyable. Calling the ACC tournament is always an honor and it brings back many fond memories of my experiences in it. The tournament had a different feel this year down in Tampa. While the weather was a plus for visitors, it is hard to get into tournament mode in palm trees and eighty degree weather. The staff on site did a fanatastic job and the building was full for each session. This was greatly facilitated by UNC’s success in the weekend as fans gobbled up tickets as other teams lost. N.C. State had and incredible run and gave the Heels much more of a game than I ever expected. A final note- without any firm knowledge, it is my sense that the tournament will be either in Atlanta or Greensboro going forward after a stop in Charlotte next year.

After a great week in Tampa, I turned my suitcase around and headed off to the Columbus region for CBS. The games were close and we did have the national game on Sunday when Tennessee overcame Virginia for a 3 point win. The Vols are explosive and could give Ohio St. trouble this week. By the way, can we put to rest the arguement about fouling while up 3 points with under 10 seconds to play. It should be automatic.

The staff and accommodations were outstanding at the site. If you ever travel to Columbus, try to stay at the Blackwell Hotel. It is on campus and right next to the football stadium. It is Columbus’ only four star hotel and the rating is well deserved.

This weekend-  I’m going for defense and experience in picking my final four. I think Forida, UCLA, Georgetown and Texas A&M will advance. The Gators and Bruins have been there before and will use that to their advantage. The best elite 8 game could be the Hoyas vs the Heels( Remember ‘82) with center Roy Hibbert being the difference here. Finally, the Aggies and their coach get their due and make it to Atlanta with tenacious D and a great point guard in Acie Law.

I’m off the the beach now but will chime in next week with my picks for Atlanta and other season ending odds and ends….

Under the category of ” That’s why I don’t bet” , I could not believe some of the results on Wednesday. There is no way Virginia should have lost that game to Miami, even on their home floor. It was the first sub-par game Singleteary and Reynolds have had in a while and nobody else stepped up to help. They will still make the tournament but put unnecessary distance between themselves and Carolina.The same can be said for Boston College’s effort at Virginia Tech. While not a surprise that Tech won, I thought B.C. raised the white flag with fifteen minutes to go in the game and that was a shock from an Al Skinner tteam. I wouldn’t have said this a weeek ago, but B.C.’s spot in the NCAA’s might be shaky unless they break out of this three game funk.

I get the privilege of broadcasting my first CBS game this Saturday when Pitt visits Georgetown. This is a match-up of two top 15 teams who are fighting for the Big East regular season title. Pitt is a team that reflects their city- meat and potatoes basketball with very few frills. They defend the ball well and share it well on offense. I’m looking forward to seeing Aaron Gray play. I was a teammate of his uncle’s, Steve, while at Duke and have followed his career closely. Georgtown also features a strong front court in Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert. Green may be the best player in the league that no one knows about and Hibbert is a force inside at both ends. They played a very good game at Pitt earlier in the year with the Panther’s prevailing, 74-69.

On Sunday, I get to hop into my rental for a short trip to College Park where Maryland will host North Carolina on Fox Sports Net. This is a critical game for the Terps as they continue their march to the NCAA tournament. They have caught fire at the right time and won four straight. North Carolina is coming off a revenge win against N.C. St. and are looking to solidify their hold on first place. Maryland has the athletes up front to compete with the Heels and the Terps young guards are improving. It will be critical for D.J. Strawberry to stay out of foul trouble and stay on the floor.The atmosphere at Comcast should be as intense as it was for the Duke game.

The weekend will be especially enjoyable for me as Kenny Dennard and the previously mentioned Steve Gray will be with me the whole weekend. Steve and Kenny are business partners in Houston and are coming for both games. Kenny has worked closely with Maryland’s Gary Williams on the Coaches vs. Cancer board for years so we thopught it would be a great double-header weekend opportunity. I hope I survive the festivities in-between games….

Being on the road for five months can get tedious, but I do manage to find some diversions. Actually, my travel is not nearly as bad as when I was in the NBA. There are no more 14 day road trips to contend with. The best feature of calling ACC games is that I can drive to eight of the twelve schools and be home after most games. The only flights I have are to Maryland, Miami, Florida St. and Boston College. With this in mind, I thought I would pass along some of my favorite restaurants and hotels that are in my travels.

 Favorite Restaurants (With apologies to Monk’s Diner for you fellow Seinfeld fanatics)-

1. Nana’s- Durham- I think it is one of the best restaurants in the triangle area. The decor is well done and the food in inovative and delicious. Chef Scott Howell does a magnificent job and the wine list has some great values on it. The bar is a little cramped, but that just helps you get to know your neighbor a little better.

2.Spice Street- Chapel Hill- Tucked in a mall of 15-501 in Chapel Hill, Spice Street is a magnificent space with a wide ranging menu. The bar is spacious and the staff is very hospitable, even to a Dookie. George Bakatsias has been in the business for 25 years and his experience shows in this gem.

3. Bentley’s- College Park- Just outside the campus of the University of Maryland, Bentley’s has been an institution for years. It is a pure sports bar, but the food is excellent. John always takes good care of us after games, and when Maryland wins, count on Gary Williams making an appearance to wind down after the game.

4. Mr. Moe’s- Miami- Located in Coconut Grove, Mr. Moe’s is owned by my good friend John El-Masry. It is designed to look like a hunting lodge and pulls off the decor even in the Miami heat. The food is pure comfort with barbeque and game dominating the menu. There are plenty of TV’s around to follow the nights games and they have the only liquor license in the Grove good ’til Five A.M. So drink some Red Bull and get ready for a long evening.

5. The Capital City Chop House- Raleigh- Located neat the RDU airport, The Chop House is a classic steak house. The menu is uncomplicated but consistent in quality. The wine list could be a little more expansive, but the best feature is that cigar smoking is permitted in the bar area, reason enough for me to go back every time I cover the Wolfpack.

Noble’s Grill- Winston-Salem- Jim Noble has a place in Charlotte and it is just as remarkable as this establishment. The decor is elegant but under-stated and the food is extraordinary.This became a regular for our Fox crew six years ago when we would have the Deacons on our Sunday night package.

Top Hotels- I must admit I became spoiled during my NBA days with nights at various Four Seaons and other similar four star resorts. There are a couple of places that I have enjoyed this year.

1 The Grand Bay- Miami- It is not even close.This is my favorite place in the ACC. Located near Coconut Grove, The Grand Bay is a classic Miami venue with all the amenities. Your are within walking distance to the Grove and a short ride to South Beach. It is always hard for me to leave.

2. The Inn at Virginia Tech- This was a new find for me last week. It sits right near campus and is brand new. The rooms are outstanding and the restaurant is solid, with a great breakfast buffet. Unlike most places we stay, they have a bar which gets a lively crowd after the Hokies chalk up a victory.

3.The Doubletree in Boston- It is a chain, but the have done a lot of work renovating this hotel. My last visit had me in a room overlooking the Charles River and the Boston Skyline. They have a good restaurant and nice amenities. It is 10 minutes from B.C.’s campus and a short cab ride to Cambridge. It is a nice alternative to some of the pricier hotels inb the city.

I begin this post with a heavy heart as I had to put my Lab, Duchess, to sleep last week. We originally got her and her brother, Duke, from John Nash, who was the GM for the Sixers when I played in Philly. Duke lived 12 years before we lost him to cancer. Even though Duchess was the runt of the litter, she would live 16 and a half glorious years. I never knew how a big a void she would leave in my life , having provided me with unconditional love for so long. I miss her greatly..R.I.P. Miss Duchess. I know you are back with your brother in a much better place…

My travels- On a happier note, I had a great trip a couple of weeks ago to Miami for the Georgia Tech- Miami game. We stayed at the Grand Bay Hotel, which is centrally located in Coconut Grove. It is a classic Miami hotel and should be looked into if you are travelling to the area. The Grove is a nice alternative to South Beach with plenty of night life to be enjoyed.

I spent time with my good friend John El-Masry, a former Duke football player and now owner of several restaurants in The Grove. Friday we went to South Beach and ate at The China Grill. For you sushi lovers, this place was outstanding. The chefs are personable and are master craftsmen with their presentation of the food. We ate our body weight and called it a night.

The next night, after the game, I brought my Fox crew to John’s place, Mr. Moe’s. Sounds weird , but it has a hunting lodge motif and they serve mostly southwestern cuisine. Everything on the menu is great and the best news is they have the only liquor license good until 5:00 am. We didn’t quite close the place down, but came close. John is also about to open a New Orleans style place right next door. Check both out when you are in the area..

What I’m drinking- Australia has become a leader in the world of big red wines over the last decade. In any region, you can spent a pot load of money and get a great wine. The real joy for me is finding a great value and this might be one of the best values in the world- Pillar Box Red. It is a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and Shiraz and is an absolute fruit bomb. The best part is it costs only $10 and is in good quantity so you should be able to find it. Don’t be offended by the screw cap either. This is a wine to be cracked opened and enjoyed every day.

My Christmas List:

1. Do away with the Big 10-ACC Challenge and replace it with the SEC-ACC Challenge. The Big 10 has been a non-factor and the SEC would offer a more competitive series with more regional and national interest.

2.An 18 game ACC regular season schedule. I’d really like a return to a complete round-robin schedule, but two more league games would expand premanent match-ups (Duke-N.C.St. for instance) and get rid of two non-conference dog games.

3. No later that 7:00 pm starts Sunday through Thursday nights for all college games. It is ridiculous to ask these kids to travel after a late game and expect them to get to an 8:00 am class.

I’ll be in Atlanta this Friday for the Georgia- Georgia Tech game.. Look for my scouting report in the print section of the web site…Merry Christmas to all…

One of the things I am most passionate about is music, especially live performances, and I plan on writing some commentary on this subject as part of my blog entries.

It has been a wonderful year for me as far as the concerts I’ve been able to attend. There were a couple of historical firsts- seeing both The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan for the first time each. The Stones opened the new Charlotte arena last October, which led Mick Jagger to utter the line of the night when he said how proud he was to “pop the cherry on your new building.” Mick’s voice is a shadow of itself, but the group still did the Viagra generation proud with their energy and enthusiasm. Dylan was another story. I saw him at Davidson College, a nice small venue that I thought would be perfect for him at this point in his career. If you’ve seen him recently and understood a single word he has sung, you should get a job at the UN as an inerpreter. I was also disappointed by the fact that he never played guitar once during the entire show, being content to stand behind his piano. In the end, I was glad to have seen him because he has been such a large part of american culture over the past half century. A footnote- Dylan’s latest album, ” Modern Times”, proves he can still deliver the goods in studio and is a must buy.

Two current superstars, U2 and Keith Urban, concluded my arena shows. U2 showed Charlotte why they are the biggest band in rock and roll will a very polished performance. I saw them for the first time in Madison Square Garden during the Joshua Tree tour and, for my money, they were better then when they were more stripped down and edgier. Speaking of that, The Edge is an outstanding player and his sound in many ways is the voice of the band. Now,for those of you who think Keith Urban is straght country, think again. This guy is a great guitarist in his own right and his band ROCKS. This night was made extra special when my family and I got to meet Keith before the show. I was thrilled to find him to be very gracious and humble with all of his success. Country artists, like NASCAR drivers , may do the best job of anyone in the music industry connecting with their fans.

I had the chance to see my favorite band of all time when Little Feat came to the Neighborhood Theater in Charlotte. I first saw Feat in Chapel Hill during the Waiting for Colombus tour and have been hooked ever since. I never got the chance to meet Lowell George, but have been able to get to know everyone else in the band over the years. It was great to be able to hang out with them after the show and catch up. If your from around Charlotte or just visiting, the Neighborhood Theater is a terrific, intimate venue to catch a show.

To finally satisfy my country itch, I saw Dierks Bentley open for Kenny Chesney at the Verizon Amphitheater this summer. Despite getting rained on off and on all night, both put on a great show. Bentley just seems like a guy you would want to hang out with and have a beer. It won’t be long before he is headlining his own show. Chesney delivered as promised. It is no surprise why he has been chosen entertainer of the year with a show and a stage presence that belies his small stature.

The two most special shows I attended were performances by my friend Bruce Hornsby. Our shared love of basketball and music have made it an easy friendship. Bruce has sons who play ball and Bruce still gets out to shoot threes every once in a while. I provided him with tickets to the Duke-UNC game at Cameron last year and he reciprocated with tickets to two shows. The first concert took place on the terrace of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Bruce says this might be his favorite venue to play and is easy to see why. Being outside, he and his band can really cut loose and they play with great energy. Bruce nephew, R.S. , is aa accomplished guitarist and placates all the Deadheads in attendance with his strikingly Jerry Garcia- like sound. An extra treat for me was sitting ten feet off stage during the performance with a great vantage to watch the band work at close range.Two nights later it was a completely different vibe as Bruce played the McGlohon Theater in Charlotte. In a much more intimate setting, Bruce’s piano virtuosity was front and center. If you haven’t seen a Hornsby show, I would highly recommend it. Don’t expect cookie cutter renditions of his hits as he has written new arrangements for much of his music. It is a testament to his playing ability that he still enrgizes quite a following.

A month ago I received a phone call from my teammate and friend, Charles Barkley, inviting me to be his guest at his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. It was great to hear from him, especially under the circumstances of the call, and was honored to be one of three former players that he invited- myself, Dan Majerle, and Rick Mahorn. We caught up and made plans for the wekend.

I arrived in Springfield, Mass. September the 7th and had two days that will give me memories for a lifetime. With so much going on for the inductees, it was nice to have a quiet lunch with Charles before the weekend got cranked up. He had dinner obligations but we met back at the hotel with all his friends and family. It was great to see his mother and grandmother after all these years, neither one having changed much. I had forgotten how long the evenings can get with Charlie. Geno Auriemma, another inductee and UConn’s women’s coach, joined us as we shared stories about our time in Philly and the coaching mafia from that area. As usual, they we sweeping up underneath us before we called it a night.

Friday the 8th was the day of the induction ceremony. I was able to get a workout in and recover just in time to start the festivities at the Hall. The class and their speeches were all very moving. It was impressive that about 50-75 of Auriemma’s players were there for him. I think that speaks volumes about the loyalty he gives and receives. Charlie talked about growing up poor in Alabama and all the people who touched his life on his journey to Springfield. Joe Dumars might have had the best message, talking about his parents living the life of a role model and how he tried to carry on that mission in his life- successfully I might add. Sandro Gamba, a native of Milan, Italy and a forefather of Italian basketball, talked about getting shot at the end of World War II and, as part of his physical rehab, starting to play basketball. Dave Gavitt might have been the most humble of the group, but nobody has given more to the sport of basketball in this country and around the world in our generation. As a northerner, it has been fascinating to watch the birth and growth of the Big East conference, the brain child of Dave Gavitt. Finally, the was the human highlight film, Dominique Wilkins. It was fitting for him to be introduced to the hall by Dr. J because Nique certainly carried on the above the rim artistry that Doc introduced. At the end, all the Hall of Famers in attendance stood up on stage with the newest class and it was like seeing a living history of the game- Cousy, Heinsohn, Schayes, Jabbar, Malone, Barry, Coach Dean Smith, Coach Jack Ramsey, Coach Lenny Wilkens, just to name a few. It was an event that I will long chrish being a part of. I strongly urge you to visit the new Hall of Fame if you are near Springfield.

Notes From the Weekend- I was pleasantly surprised to see my Duke coach, Bill Foster, in attendance. He looks good and still has a passion for the game. I got to be friends with Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright when he was an assistant under Rollie Massimino ( Also in attendance ) at ‘Nova. Look for the Cats to be bigger and stronger this year and back in the hunt in the Big East. Had a great time chatting with Jerry Colangelo about the national team’s experience at the world games. While dissapointed with the Bronze Medal, he thought the group made great strides defensively under Coach K, the game against Greece notwithstanding. In the future, look for teams without a true center that can switch defensively and guard at any position out on the floor. He is still very encouraged about the teams Gold Medal chances in 2008. Lenny Wilkens is a guy who gets lost in the sauce  but consider he has been inducted into the Hall as a player AND a coach- Incredible. I think John Wooden is the only other person who can make that claim. During the ceremony, I had the privilege to sit next to HOF Carol Blazejowski. The Blaze looks great and I would be hard pressed not to pick her for my team if we were down at the local gym- she still gets out and plays a couple of times a week.