Lawrence.com

Whatever you think about Ostertag's playing abilities, you kinda have to admit he was really funny in the movie, "Eddie." Remember the movie with Whoopie Goldberg? He played Joe Sparks. Okay, so I have to reveal that I had to look up his character's name on imdb.com. However, that led me to also learn that he played himself on an episode of "Touched by an Angel" - wait, isn't there a law somewhere that says you have to always preceed the name of that show with the phrase, "a very special episode of..." ???

Seriously, though, the guy gave his sister one of his kidneys. That deserves some respect.

I agree about the Ostertag is a regular joe schmoe in a hollywood setting. Have you ever seen or been to an NBA game? It's basically a night club. Think about it, hot women dressing up like they're hittin' the town, people drinking champagne courtside, laser lights everywhere, dancers, see what I mean? And while this particular atmosphere fits Paul Pierce and yes, even our little g-boy Hinrich (we all know he likes to hit the town), Ostertag wants to just go home and watch Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, spend some time with the kids, and go to bed with his wife.

If there's one thing I give him is that he's never let the criticism get him down. You never hear him complain about it, you just see him suit and up and sweat his ass off.

I agree, I like him too and proud he's a Jayhawk.

That takes some cajones to admit you actually watched the movie "Eddie." I can count the number of people on one hand that I know who've admitted to seeing it, and I still have three fingers left over.

Seriously, though, Ostertag is living the absolute NBA dream. Much like Jon Koncak, Ostertag's a guy who got locked into a big contract before anybody realized that he didn't have much basketball skill or work ethic. He just happened to land the big paycheck early enough and he has laughed all the way to the bank with it. But, I'd rather see him making the NBA cash than, say, either of the Hayley twins.

What...?? So, you're saying I should be ashamed that I've worn out my VHS version of Eddie and am prepared to replace it with a shiny, spankin' new DVD? Oy, the stench of snobbery! Shucks, I can't even keep a straight face with the veil of cyberspace offering its protection...I've only seen it once and recall it was mildly amusing. Joel--you're a brave soul to cop up to viewing the theatrical version. You may not be as tough as Ms. Kincaid, but rest-assured you're still a manly man putting yourself out there like that.

Anyway, Ostertag reminisicing makes me smile. You gotta love a person who can run over his own foot and walk away unscathed. And to this day, I can't run through the McDonald's drive-thru without thinking of Ostertag. This is probably an all-too-sad commentary on my upbringing...but as a kid, I remember seeing him at McDonalds every time I was there with my family...(did we frequent McD's that much?)

My theory has always been that Ostertag is a guy who likes but does not love basketball. He's physically talented enough to cruise through a game, make some defensive plays, and get paid millions. Hell, I'd do it too. If he LOVED bball and worked his ass off, his ceiling is still nowhere near Shaq's, so why be surprised that he's finagled this well-paying journeyman career? It's not his fault GMs will still pay him.

And I agree, he's a good guy. I say honor what he's been able to do, and don't worry about what he can't or won't.

Hey Joel I'll have to give you props on the non-Ostertag part of your blog.

Last night on our little mom and pop news show our anchor pulled up a story from Scottsdale, AZ about people who decided to jump into huge mud puddles to keep cool. Then I immediately thought of what you wrote about the older folks keeping cool and made the comment that is what people did before the invention of air conditioning. Then I had to remind everyone that it was going to be another hot, humid, misreble next few days. Thank you Joel for giving me something to say to the anchor instead of my normal awkward silence.

Jeez, Joel, you don't have to go back as far as Ms. Kincaid to get first-hand knowledge of prehistoric times before AC! My family didn't have it until the end of my sixth grade year because we was jes' po farm folk. Ah yes, I remember dips in the stock tank and box fans in the windows, blowing the hot air OUT of the house.

I started KU in the fall of '91 also, and it seemed like the Big O was everywhere. And what was that beast he used to drive around while in college?

I vividly recall a game in which big O got blood on his jersey somehow, and they stopped the game and made him go change. Most guys would just whip off the bloody shirt, put on the other, and get back in the game. But the camera caught Greg hiding around the corner in the tunnell back to the locker room, furtively ducking out of his tainted jersey.

As a fairly modest and chubby guy myself, I felt for him. If you're Paul Pierce, you probably can't wait to whip your shirt off in front of 16,000 people, but big O just needed some privacy.

Yeah, but even if he did steal it, it's funny. And self-aware.

Oh, and I forgot. Rex Walters had a brain? That certainly wasn't what I noticed about him.

Ah, blogs about Ostertag in July. Things must be pretty slow around Larryville this time of year.

Big O has a kid that's coming to the KU camps. He's already a giant. Could it be a legacy?

Rigg: Are you seriously criticizing my blog topics after you turned your back on all of us at the Newscenter .... TO GO TO OKLAHOMA?

For shame. For shame.