Rhoda Cox

[Wayne23]

5/1: National and International gold.

5/4: Agent Bruce Ewusy reported at a press conferenced that 137 more arrests were made. Two churches were involved: “Our God Is a Vengeful God Temple,” and “Repent or Die Sanctuary.” Both churches are listed on the FBI register of hate groups.

5/7: Rhoda: Daisy’s first plastic surgery was today. She’s all wrapped up and we won’t know what it looks like for some time, but the surgeon said she should look exactly, or very nearly exactly as she did before the bombing. Fingers crossed.

5/10: Rhoda: Daisy’s recovery is progressing. It will be about 3 days before we can see how the plastic surgery came out.

She is learning to use the prosthetic leg. We are told that she will be able to walk just as well as before. Of course, it’s a prosthesis, so it will not be a secret that she lost a leg. To me this is all amazing. The leg is gone up to mid-thigh. How she will be able to walk normally without her own knee is mind boggling to me, but over the course of mthe past half century the improvements to these devices has been incredible.

Daisy is suffering from mood swings. This is no surprise given what she’s been through. The docs have her in therapy. Talk therapy has made a big comeback in the last decade. The overuse of drugs led to serious, serious levels of addiction. Doctors are now doing all they can to avoid the use of mood altering medications. She is getting something very mild to deal with the continuing pain, and to help her sleep. I’m doing all I can, of course, and still working only part time, but sometimes she simply doesn’t want me around. I try to pick up on cues so that I don’t needlessly piss her off. I’ll stay part time as long as I need to. Eric Ford can handle this and anything major is discussed by us.

PT is tough. Of course Daisy knows all about it; it’s part of the work she does. She asked for someone who would push her and she got it. The woman is definitely pushing. But both she and Daisy know when and where to draw the line.

Marco Auriemma has a huge group of people helping to guard us, our home… It’s terrific, and it’s appreciated. And they are as unobtrusive as they can be. We don’t feel like we’re on a leash.

5/15: Rhoda: The surgeon had to make some minor repairs but the “unveiling” was today. Unbelievable. Daisy smiled, then cried when she saw herself. If it isn’t perfect it’s too close to perfect to notice the difference. Now she has at least 10, maybe as many as 15 more surgeries to repair her body from the damage the shrapnel did. Amazingly, no major organs were penetrated, but there’s SO much damage to repair. No hurry though. The docs are saying one surgery every three months until it’s done.

5/21: Rhoda: I’m back to work full time. Daisy is going half time. She’s going to job share. We found someone we really like. They’ll each do some road games; Daisy will probably do fewer.

5/27: Rhoda: Agent Bruce Ewusy tells me that the trials will go on for at least a year, starting in December, or perhaps January. We won’t need to be at any of them, thankfully.

He also thinks that the most obvious threats to our safety have been taken care of. He says the FBI has people in every hate group they know of, which he feels is 99% of them. No one is talking about us, at least for now.

When I asked about backing off a little on the security he thought that was a very bad idea.

[Wayne23]

6/5: There’s 5 star SG in the transfer pool. We’re taking our shot.

6/12: Got him! Sha Cull.

6/25: This is my strongest team ever. 7 at 5 (including Cull, who won’t play this season), 1 at 4.5, 4 at 4. We’re pre-season #1, and we should be!

Dave Fril went #4 in the draft, Jed Roy #30, Nick Noon #46.

6/26: 3 scholarships. We’ll take the best 3 we can get, regardless of position. Looking at 12.

7/22: Daisy’s second plastic surgery. There was an area around her left shoulder that was badly torn up. The docs decided that one should be next.

7/29: It’s been a week since Daisy’s surgery and the left shoulder area feels and looks much better. She is walking about normally with the prosthetic leg, but still adjusting. It’s complicated.

8/7: 5 on the Norton list: PG Rob Monk, #2, PG Will Town, #11, PF John Wall, #12, PF Dan Deng, #41, PG Oti Smith, #47.

8/21: We offer to an SF, a C, and a PG.

9/18: Got #1 Dee Phil, SF. Lost a C. We offer to a PG.

We’re in the Coaches Classic vs. Georgia ST. Mostly ranked teams in pre-conf. play.

9/25: Got PG Mike Tinn, #12. Lost the other PG. We offer to another PG.

10/2: We lose the PG, offer to a C. We may not fill this one.

First day of practice. Wow!

10/9: We get the C, Joe Gloe, #23. All 3 look like they should hit our SAT score.

10/30: Another surgery today. This one in the left hip area.

11/6: 8 man rotation: Soph Will Town and frosh Rob Monk get the lion’s share of minutes at guard with senior Nate Dye and frosh Oti Smith in relief.

4 players share the SF, PF, and C spots equally to start: junior Rod Call at 3, Soph Joe Tann at 4 and 5, frosh John Wall at 3 and 4, and frosh Joe Pree at 4 and 5. Three very good bigs are waiting in the wings: Cole Robb, Dan Deng, and Cal Sax.

Off to the Coaches Classic.

[Wayne23]

11/13: #1 seed in the Coaches Classic. We beat #16 GA ST, 92-55. 22, 15, 2 for Joe Pree, 24, 9, 5 for Will Town. 54 RBs. This was the easiest game on our schedule though.

Next is #8 seed Wake Forest.

11/15: 78-63. 17, 16 for Pree, 12, 11 for Wall, 16, 3, 4 for Monk, 15, 7 for Town. 50 RBs, 8 TOs.

#5 seed Arkansas in the semifinal.

11/17: 66-52. 20, 10 for Pree. 49 RBs, 5 TOs.

#7 seed Auburn in the final.

11/19: 95-72. 24, 14 for Pree, his 4th straight double double. 21, 4, 5 for Monk, 15, 17 for Tann. 59 RBs, 8 TOs.

11/20: All 3 recruits sign.

11/23: 85-71 over #4 North Carolina here. 22, 9, 2, 2, 2 for Pree; he misses the double double by one. 24, 6, 2, 3 for Tann, 16, 9 for Call, 12, 2, 4, 3 for Town. 39 RBs, 9 TOs.

11/26: 69-48 over Georgetown here. 32, 7, 5 for Monk. Pree had 5 and 12, Wall had 7, 10, 2, 3. 50 RBs, 11 TOs.

11/27: 6-0. #1, RPI #3. 2 on the road.

11/30: 70-67 at #7 Arizona. The first time we’ve been tested and we passed. Down 6 with 3:02 to play at the final media time out. Out socred them 11-2 from then on. 23 for Monk, 17, 7 for Tann, 10, 7 for Pree, 11, 6, 3, 2 for Town.

We’re averaging a ridiculous 48.6 RBs; 8.4 above 2nd place. It’s early.

12/3: 85-67 at FL ST. We didn’t get the lead for good until 11:27 of the 2nd half. 13, 9, 3, 2, 4 for Tann, 14, 7 for Wall, 13, 3, 4 for Monk, 9, 8, 3 for Call, 6, 12 for Pree.

12/4: 8-0, #1, RPI #2.

#2 Stanford, 7-1, is here next.

12/7: 57-41. We held them to 11 in the 1st half, and we never trailed. 23, 3, 3 for Monk, 8, 16 for Tann, 6, 10 for Pree.

12/10: 70-40 over 3-3 Creighton here. 20, 3, 3 with 4 blocks for Monk, 12, 7, 5 for Town, 6, 14, 3 with 3 blocks for Pree. 55 RBs (48.8 avg.).

12/11: 10-0, #1, #2.

At #6 Auburn, 8-2, next. Beat them by 23 in the Coaches Classic title game, but they’re tough at home.

12/13: 75-55. 18, 12, 2 for Pree, 8, 13, 2, 2 for Tann, 14, 3, 4 for Town, 11, 3 for Monk. 50 RBs. We have so many weapons, and 48.9 RBs.

12/18: 11-0, #1, #2.

#8 Indiana, 7-1, is next, here.

12/21: 73-63. 19, 8, 5 for Monk, 12, 10 for Tann, 15, 5, 3, 4, 2 for Pree. “Only” 42 RBs.

12/25: 12-0, #1, #1, at the end of pre-conf. play.

We begin conf. play at our toughest rival, #9 Memphis, 9-2. +18.5 PPG, +14.5 RBs, +4.5 TOs.

Daisy is more upbeat. She’s going to stay halftime until all of her surgeries are finished, which is at least a couple of years, but she says she’s okay with that, and she seems to be. She is walking on the prosthetic leg perfectly, and has started running again. She did 3.5-4 miles every day before the bombing. Personality wise she’s her old self. I think having her face back was huge.

[Wayne23]

12/27: No undefeated season. 87-88 in OT on a fluke 65 footer at the end of OT. We were down 13 with 4:52 left when I called my last time out. When I need one I call it. I couldn’t let it go any longer. We outscored them 20-7 during the rest of regulation. In OT we thought we had the winner when Joe Pree put down a thunder dunk with .9 seconds left, but fate took a hand.

22, 10 for Pree, 21, 3, 7 for Monk, but he fouled out in the first minute of OT, which hurt. 13, 13 for Tann, 12, 12 for Call. 49 RBs but a season high 19 TOs. Oh well, we’ll get them at our place.

12/30: 96-50 over 4-6 SMU, here. 5 in double figures, 3 others close, 2 double doubles. 46 RBs. 15 TOs though; not happy with that.

1/1/’48: 13-1, 1-1, #1, #1.

1/3: 74-57 at 4-8, 1-2 Tulsa. 28, 12 for Pree, maybe his best game yet. 7, 14 for Tann. 11 TOs, which is much better.

6-6, 3-0 Houston is here next.

1/6: 77-48. 38, 5, 6 for Monk, 14, 4, 7 for Town. 44 RBs, 11 TOs.

1/8: 15-1, 3-1, #1, #1. We’re in a 4 way for 1st place in conf.

At 10-4, 1-2 Cincinnati.

1/9: 78-61. We never trailed. 23, 5 for Monk, 18, 10 for Pree, 9, 9 for Tann. 44 RBs, 7 TOs.

At 5-9, 1-4 Temple. They’re rebuilding this year, and struggling.

1/11: 59 members of “Our God Is a Vengeful God Temple,” are being tried as a group in the first hate crime trial. The charges are serious only because of the hate crime legislation. This group and the other one mostly threatened, but since their threats were public, the penalties are up to 10 years in prison. Agent Ewusy thinks all of them will get the max, or close to it. Security is unbelievable. An area around the building, both front and back, is roped off with armed guards with orders to shoot to kill.

1/13: 72-61. 24, 4, 4 for Monk, 15, 8, 3 for Pree. 40 RBs, 11 TOs.

1/15: 17-1, 5-1, #1, #1, ½ game behind Houston and alone in 2nd in conf.

8-7, 3-3 South FL is here.

1/17: 73-48. 18, 4, 3, 3 for Monk, 16, 8, 4, 5 for Tann, 14, 3 for Town, 10, 2, 2 for Dye.

Memphis is falling apart; 3 losses in 4 games. One injury, but it’s to their 7th or maybe 8th man.

9-7, 4-3 Central FL is here next.

1/19: Plea bargain. Agent Bruce Ewusy told me that it became obvious to the lawyers and the defendants, “Our God Is a Vengeful God Temple,” that a guilty verdict was inevitable. The prosecution hung tough and all 59 were sentenced to 4 years, which means they should be out in 2 ½. They were also warned that they will be closely monitored regarding any and all organizations and on line groups they choose to join aftwer their release.

1/20: 81-54. 21, 8, 6 for Monk, 19, 9, 2, 2 for Pree, 14, 6, 2, 2 for Tann, 10, 6, 2 for Wall.

1/22: 19-7, 1-1, #1, RPI #1, still ½ game back of Houston, but it’s a 2 team race.

13-6, 4-4 Cincy is here next.

1/27: 81-49. 26, 7, 3 for Monk, 21, 11 for Pree. 44 Rbs but 16 TOs.

Nate Dye strained a knee. Out two weeks.

1/29: 20-1, 8-1, #1, #1, still ½ game behind. Houston keeps winning. It may come down to our game there on 2/10.

Rob Monk is #4 on the Norton list.

#13 Memphis, 16-5, 7-3, alone in 3rd in Conf. is here next. They won there in OT on a 65 footer at the buzzer.

1/30: 78-60. 17, 13 for Pree. 43 RBs, 7 TOs.

At 9-11, 5-6 SMU.

2/3: 80-60. 18 for Monk, 15, 8 for Wall.

2/5: 22-1, 10-1, #1, #1, still ½ game back. Houston has won 8 in a row since we crushed them by 29 here.

5-16, 2-10 Tulsa is here.

2/7: 71-47. 16, 8 for Tann, 10, 10, 3, 4 for Call, 12, 5, 3 for Town. 43 RBs, 11 TOs.

It’s the battle for 1st place next. We’re at 15-7, 12-1 Houston. Why they are not ranked is a mystery to me.

2/10: 73-67. They led early but we exploded out of the gate in the 2nd half. We built an 18 point lead. They narrowed it in garbage time. 37, 8 for Monk. When he’s hot he is all but unstoppable. 10, 2, 7 for Town, 5, 15 for Pree, 6, 12, 2 for Tann. 49 RBs, 12 TOs.

2/12: 24-1, 12-1, #1, #1, 1 up on Houston in the loss column with 5 to play (4 for them).

Rob Monk is #5 on the Norton list.

15-8, 8-6 Tulane is here.

2/13: 82-57. 16, 8, 5 for Monk. 5 in double figures. 51 RBs, 11 TOs.

4 left, 3 on the road.

At 10-13, 5-9 Central FL. Beat them by 27 at our place.

2/14: 84-60. 23, 6, 5 for Town, 15, 8, 4 for Monk, 11, 7 for Pree, 6, 10 for Tann. 44 RBs, 10 TOs.

11-15, 7-10 Temple in our last home game.

2/17: 97-50. Never a game. 23, 2, 5 for Monk, 13, 11, 4 for Pree, 15, 6, 3 for Town.

Houston lost by 1 at #16 Memphis, so we’re 2 up in the loss column. 3 on Memphis, 6 or more on the rest.

4th surgery for Daisy. Left elbow and forearm. This has been a really painful area. Hopefully she’ll get some relief.

At 12-13, 7-9 South FL. We won by 25 at our place.

2/21: 66-57. Not our best game. 19, 12 for Pree, 18, 3 for Monk. 47 RBs, 13 TOs. We shot a season low 32.3%.

We end the regular season at 8-18, 3-14 East Carolina.

Daisy says she’s pain free in her left elbow and forearm for the first time since the bombing.

2/24: 77-50. 13, 6, 9 for Town, 15, 13 for Tann, 15, 7, 4, 2, 2 for Monk, 9, 11 for Pree, who ends the regular season averaging a double double. 53 RBs, 10 TOs.

2/26: 29-1, 17-1, #1, #1. We win the conf. by 2 over Houston, 4 over Memphis, 6 over Cincy, 8 or more over the rest. Joe Pree ends up 2nd, Joe Tann 4th in RBs nationally (7.6 better than #2!). As a team we’re #1 in RBs, #1 in blocks, #2 in points allowed, #4 in TOs, #9 in PPG.

3/5: Joe Pree, Rob Monk, and Oti Smith leave for the NBA. Not a surprise and it could have been worse. Considering that we aren’t graduating anyone who plays major minutes, and #1, #12, and #22 are coming in, we can live with this.

Rob Monk is #2 on the Norton list.

[Wayne23]

3/9: #9 seed South FL, 13-15, 7-11, won their game. We beat them by 25 at our place but only 9 there.

3/10: 71-52. 15, 12 for Pree, but a team effort.

Rod Call hurt his wrist and he’s out for the tourney, and probably at least one, maybe 2 games in the NCAA tournament. John Wall will get his minutes and Deng and Sax will get the rest.

Amazingly, both #2 seed Houston and #3 seed Memphis were upset.

We play #4 seed, #17 ranked Cincinnati, 21-9, 11-7. We beat them by 17 there and 32 here.

3/11: 66-53. 20, 4, 3 for Monk, 16, 10 for Tann, 9, 10 for Pree, 6, 10 for Wall. 43 RBs (+10).

#6 seed Central FL, 16-14, 8-10, for the title. Beat them by 27 and 24 in the regular season.

3/12: 91-65 and the title. 31, 10 for Pree, 21, 4, 6 for Monk, 16, 4, 3 for Town.

32-1, 17-1, #1, #1.

#1 overall.

3/16: 79-60 over 14-17 North Dakota ST. 20, 11 for Pree, 12, 10, 3 for Tann, 18, 3, 4 for Monk, 15 for Smith. 43 RBs, 8 TOs.

#9 seed Texas, 20-9, in the 2nd round.

3/18: 73-58. 19, 3 for Smith, who has been on fire lately. 5 in double figures. 8 TOs.

Rod Call is back for our next.

#5 seed, #17 ranked Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen.

3/23: 89-72. Balance- 5 in double figures. +11 TOs, +8 RBs.

#2 seed, #7 ranked Kansas, 27-4 in the Elite Eight.

3/25: 51-31 at the half. +8 RBs, +6 TOs (We had 1), 5 fewer fouls. 15 for Town, 12, 7, 3 for Tann.

72-56. Emptied the bench with 5:03 left. 51 RBs, 2 TOs(!). 17, 6 for Town, 14, 2, 4, with 6 blocks for Monk, 12, 7, 3 for Tann, 8, 13 for Pree.

#1 seed, #2 ranked Stanford, 33-4, in the round of 4. We beat them by 16 here.

4/1: 49-32 at the half. It was 8-8, and then it was 27-8. +7 RBs. 13, 2, 5 for Monk, 11, 2, 2 for Smith, 10 for Town.

81-67. The refs did their best to keep it close; they were terrible. +15 RBs. 15 threes. 27, 5, 7 for Monk, 14, 4, 2 for Smith, 10, 8 for Pree, 12, 3, 2 for Town, 11 RBs for Call.

Our opponent in the title game is #8 seed, unranked FL ST, 23-10. They beat #9, #1, #4, #3, and then beat a #1 seed in the national semifinal. We beat them by 18 there, but this is a different team; they’re on fire. They score outside and they rebound well. They don’t turn it over much.

4/3: 48-37 at the half. We scored the first 9; got it to 20 with 8 min. left. Then they came back to get it within reach. +5 RBs. Other stats are pretty even, except we’re shooting 48% to their 37.5%. 15, 3 for Town, 14, 4 for Pree.

91-66, and the 3rd national title since I got here. +10 RBs, 44.4% to 30.6%. 26, 8, 2 for Pree, 20, 6, 4, 2 for Town, 12, 4, 5, 1, 5 for Monk, 9, 11, 2, 2 for Call.

4/4: Awards: Rob Monk was Final Four MOP and 1st team All American. I was national COY. In conf., Monk was POY, freshman OY, 1st team. Joe Pree led the nation in RBs, was Defensive POY and 1st team. Joe Tann was also 1st team. John Wall made the 2nd team.

4/13: Today’s surgery was left side of the body in the rib cage area.

4/23: We ask for a budget increase. We get $8,000.

38-1, 17-1, national champs. We missed an undefeated season by a 65 footer in OT. +20.2 PPG, +12.6 RBs, +5.7 TOs, 1st in the nation in blocks, 2nd in points allowed.

Overall, I’m 388-70, .847.

Next year? We may be shorthanded at guard but we’ll be as good as anyone up front. I like our chances.

[Wayne23]

5/1: National and International gold.

Only 10 players on the squad, 4 guards.

5/3: The trials of the 78 members of “Repent or Die Sanctuary,” never happened. They took the same plea deal as the “Our God Is a Vengeful God Temple” took.

5/11: Daisy had another surgery today. Dental implants. I’m surprised she held off on that this long, but she explained that the really painful areas needed to come first. She lost MANY teeth on the left side of her mouth- pretty much all of them.

6/5: At least no one transferred out.

We offer to a shooting guard who is leaving Kansas. He looks really good. Looking at a couple other guards.

#1 preseason again.

6/9: We offer to a PG and 2 SGs. We don’t expect to get them all.

6/12: We got SG Mick Beck, 4.5 stars.

We’ll leave it at that.

6/25: 5-7, 4.5-3* (1 ineligible transfer), 3-2* (1 walk on), 2.5-1.

6/26: 5 scholarships. Looking at 15.

Joe Pree went #2 in the NBA draft, Oti Smith #6, Rob Monk #7, Nate Dye #50, Cal Sax #57.

8/7: Norton list: SF Dee Phil #1, PG Will Town #6, SG Sha Cull #9, PF John Wall #13, PF Dan Deng #15, C Jay Gloe #22.

8/19: Daisy had surgery on her abdomen today. There was a fair amount of shrapnel there.

8/21: We offer to 2 PGs, an SF, and 2 Cs.

9/11: #1 ranked recruit, SF Max Tao, commits.

9/18: #3 Center Al Dell, #4 PG Loy Hem, and #8 Center Wes Warp commit. One left to get.

In the Coaches Classic again, vs. LSU. Tough schedule but lots of home games.

9/25: Lost the PG. We NEED another guard. Looking at a few more.

10/2: Lost another PG.

1st day of practice. I think we have a very good chance to repeat.

11/6: 7 man rotation: Junior Sha Cull, a transfer from Arizona, will get all the minutes he can handle at guard. The rest will be split between senior Cole Robb and junior Will Town.

Frosh Dee Phil will start at SF.

Senior Rod Call will start at 5. Junior Joe Tann and soph John Wall will split the rest of the minutes at 3, 4, 5.

Several very good players are waiting in the wings.

[Wayne23]

11/13: 74-63 over LSU. 19, 6, 4, 2, 4 for Phil, but he fouled out. 18, 5 for Tann, 13, 3, 3 for Cull. 42 RBs, 7 TOs.

#15 Creighton in the 2nd round of the Coaches Classic.

11/15: 87-62. 21, 15 for Wall, 24, 1, 3, 2, 2 for Cull, 12, 6 for Phil, 11, 3, 7, 3, 2 for Town. 44 RBs, 6 TOs.

#11 ranked Oklahoma ST in the semifinal.

11/17: 77-62. 27, 2, 2 for Cull, 15, 18, 2, 2 for Call, 10, 6, 5 for Robb, 9, 9 for Wall, 8, 7, 2, 2, 2 for Tann. 56 RBs, 11 TOs.

#3 ranked Stanford for the title.

11/19: 88-63. 33, 2, 3, 2, 3 for Cull, 14, 7, 2, 3, 2 for Phil, 10, 15 for Call, 11, 2, 5 for Town, 7, 16, 2 for Tann. 48 RBs, 5 TOs.

We beat up some pretty good teams in this tournament!

11/20: 4-0, #1. All 4 recruits signed.

11/21: 72-57 in a rematch with #7 OK ST here. 17, 4, 4 for Cull, 12, 13 for Wall, 10, 11 for Call. 51 RBs, 10 TOs.

11/24: 90-76 at 2-1 Arkansas. 5 in double figures, Call had a double double. 46 RBs, 7 TOs.

11/27: 6-0, #1, #2.

11/28: 81-60 in a home rematch with #3 Stanford. 26, 12, 2 for Phil, 19, 6 for Cull, 14, 3, 8 for Town, 8, 14 for Call. 50 RBs, but 16 TOs.

11/29: Another surgery. 6 more to go. They are more minor now, not really cosmetic, but to fix smaller items, some of which cause pain. Some will be teaks to previous surgeries. This one was a slight jaw realignment.

12/1: 94-73 at Virginia. 23, 3, 6 for Cull, 4 others in double figures. 45 RBs.

12/4: 8-0, #1, #1.

#2 Kentucky, 8-1, is here next.

12/5: 87-63. 25, 3, 4 for Cull, 19, 18, 2 for Wall, 16, 5 for Phil. 44 RBs.

#23 Auburn, 5-2 is here.

12/13: 78-40. We held them to 11 in the 1st half. 18, 5, 2 for Phil, 12, 17, 3 for Call, 15, 3 for Cull. 49 RBs, 5 TOs.

Had a chat with Agent Bruce Ewusy. He says there are always crazies out there but he feels that the threat to us is much less with the deaths of so many members of the Redeemer Tabernacle, and the jailing of even more from the other two religious fanatic hate groups.

Life in the U. S. and around the world is difficult here in 2048. The world population went from a high of just under 8 billion to the present estimated 2.9 billion due to the effects of climate change, as well as the Rembu virus and Willo virus pandemics, and a series of wars, two of which involved nuclear weapons.

The survivors of all this are hard people. Many are humorless, and many are bigots, driven by fear and rage.

Suicide bombings and other hate crimes occur multiple times daily around the world. Any illusion of safety is just that, for almost everyone on the planet. Times are hard. The very few who are doing well are targets, particularly if they are women, or members of any minority group.

Religion has tended to lessen greatly in popularity. Worldwide, well over 60% classify themselves as “none,” “atheist,” or “agnostic” when surveyed. Those who do affiliate with a religion tend to choose the more extreme sects. Mainstream religion is pretty much dead, or at least dying. Even in the U. S., the last industrialized country to cling to religion for a very long time, 50.2% are “nones,” and most of the others belong to Christian hate group churches.

So times are hard and dangerous.

Agent Ewusy suggested that we should keep our guard system in place permanently.

5-2 New Mexico is here.

12/15: 85-39. Ugly. 11 players scored between 4 and 14. 43 RBs, 8 TOs.

Minor injuries to both Dee Phil and Jay Gloe. Both are day to day.

#12 Georgetown, 6-4, is here for our last pre-conf. game.

12/19: 108-63. 6 in double figures, 2 with 10 or more RBs, 1 with 10 assists. 4 TOs for the game.

12/25: At the end of pre-conf. play we are 12-0, #1, #1. +25.0 PPG (!), +14.0 RBs, +7.5 TOs. We are #1 in the nation in all 3 categories, as well as blocks. #2 in steals allowed, and #3 in assists. Rod Call leads the nation in RBs with John Wall #3. Cole Robb is #5 in assists.

[Wayne23]

We start conf. play with 8-2 SMU here.

12/30: 89-53. 30, 10, 3, 2, 2 for Phil, 16, 7 for Wall, 17, 3, 2 for Cull. 45 RBs, 12 TOs.

1/1/2048: 13-0, 1-0, #1, #1.

A 3 game week. 1st 2 are on the road.

1/2: 67-45 at Temple. 16, 11, 4 for Phil, 16, 10 for Wall, 7, 16, 2, 2, 3 for Call, 8, 6, 6 for Robb. 54 and 11.

1/4: 75-52 at Central FL. 14, 16, 3, 2, 6 for Call. 3 had double doubles, 6 in double figures. 57 and 12.

1/7: 75-48 over Houston here. 27, 4, 2 for Cull, 16, 13, 2 for Phil, 14, 2, 4 for Robb. 56 and 7

1/8: 16-0, 4-0, #1, #1. Tied with #7 ranked Cincy for 1st. We play them this week, there.

Little used SF Pen More is out for a week with back spasms.

Last 10 games were by, in reverse order from the most recent: 27, 23, 22, 36, 45, 46, 38, 24, 21, 21. We are #1` in the nation in scoring, RBs, TOs, blocks, steals allowed. #5 in points allowed, #6 in assists.

1/10: 86-54 over South FL here. 5 in double figures. 48, 12.

#7 Cincinnati, 13-1, is next, there. This seems to be the only team in conf. that could challenge us.

1/13: 66-47. We never trailed. 16, 8, 3 for Cull, 11, 9, 2 with 4 blocks for Phil. 53 RBs (+16), but 20 TOs (They had 18). First time in 12 games we win by less than 20.

1/15: 18-0, 6-0, #1, #1. Alone in 1st.

Life in 2049 is not easy. Many of the cities I mention here have been relocated. All of the ones near water have been. They kept their names but the locations are further inland and the populations are reduced. The U. S. population maxed out at about 350 million. It is now 125 million. There was a lot of pain connected to all of this over the past 15 years or so.

The U. S. turned hard right politically. A man was elected President who tried very hard to suspend the constitution and install himself as a dictator. Four years later, instead of running for re-election he declared himself President for life. He had widespread support among the uneducated, the bigots… In year six of his “reign” the military assassinated him and took over. The military leaders made it clear that they would remain in power for as short a time as possible, and would restore the government to the people. They kept the promise and regular elections were reinstituted in time for the next Presidential election.

The people had learned their lesson and a moderately progressive woman was elected. She served two terms, somehow managing, along with a progressive Congress, to restore the Constitution, and to help the millions who had been rendered homeless and starving by the dictator.

The economy remained in shambles, which was the case worldwide, but starvation and homelessness were all but eliminated.

All of that has continued. Very few are wealthy, most of the rest live a subsistence existence.

In much of the rest of the world it is far worse. The U. S. is no longer able to provide any form of aid to foreign countries, but we no longer involve ourselves militarily. After the plague of wars, the economic collapse made keeping anything like a modern military capability impossible anywhere in the world.

Times are tough, and they will get tougher. More on climate change and its effects in the near future and long range, as we go on with this.

1/17: 75-49 at East Carolina. 20, 9, 5 blocks for Phil, 21, 7 for Tann. 45 and 9.

1/20: 77-40 over Tulsa here. 11 players scored; no one had more than 12. Call had 12, 11, 2, 1, 6. 44 and 7.

1/22: 20-0, 8-0. #1, #1. Still 1 up on Cincy, 3 or more on the rest.

1/24: 90-71 at Memphis. 26, 17, 4, 3 for Call, 28, 7, 2, 2 for Phil. 47 and 8.

1/27: 82-59 over Tulane here. 25, 8 for Phil, 13, 16, 2 for Wall, . 54 and 7.

1/29: 22-0, 10-0, #1, #1. 1 up on Cincy, 4 or more on the rest. +25.7 PPG, +16.9 RBs, +5.8 TOs. #1 in each category, and in blocks and steals allowed. #2 in points allowed. Call remains #1, and Wall #3 in RBs.

Norton list: Dee Phil #5, Sha Cull #9, John Wall #19.

[Wayne23]

1/31: 94-42 over a pretty good Temple team, here. Everybody scored. No one played more than 26 min. 48 and 9.

2/3: 87-63. 19, 12, 3, 3 for Call, 15, 14, 3 for Wall, 14, 7, 2 for Phil, 16, 2, 3 for Cull, 6, 12 for Tann. 50 and 6.

Cincy was upset at home so we’re up 2 with 6 to play.

2/6: 85-54 over Central FL here. 20, 16, 3, 2, 4 for Call. 47 and 12.

2/8: 101-74 at Houston. 30, 5, 5 for Cull. 38 and 4.

#6 Cincy, 19-3, 12-2, is here next.

2/10: 80-55. 18, 2, 7 for Robb, 15, 4, 3 for Cull, 6, 17, 2, 2, 2 for Call. 41 and 8.

2/12: 27-0, 15-0, #1, #1, up 3 on Cincy in conf.

Dee Phil is #4 and Sha Cull #8 on the Norton list

2/13: 69-50 at South FL. Not our best effort. 15, 14 for Call. 38 and 7.

2/19: 28-0, 16-0, #1, #1, still 3 up. No one in Div. I, except for us, has fewer than 4 losses.

2/21: 76-48 over East Carolina here. 11, 13, 3, 3 for Tann. 42, 11.

2/24: 78-67 at Tulane. Tied for the closest game of the year with the season opener. 22, 10, 3 for Phil, 17, 5 for Cull. 40 and 2.

2/26: We end the regular season 30-0, 18-0, #1, #1. 3 up on Cincy, 7 or more on the rest. +26.6 PPG, +15.0 RBs, +6.9 TOs, #2 in PPG, #1 in RBs, TOs, Blocks, Points Allowed, Steals Allowed. #4 in assists, #5 in assists allowed. Call leads the nation in RBs.

Danny Dahl, PG, #41, signed.

March 5: This is never a good day. We lose Dee Phil, Will Town, Joe Tann to the NBA.

Dee Phil is #7 on the Norton list.

[Wayne23]

3/9: #9 seed Tulsa, 7-21, 4-14 won the play in. We beat them by 37 here.

3/10: 81-46. 50-19 at the half.25, 4, 3 for Cull.

All the favorites advanced so we play #4 seed Central FL, 17-11, 11-7, in the semis. Beat them by 23 and 31.

3/11: 80-57. 4 in double figures, 1 with 9, 2 with 8, two had double doubles. 47, 11.

As expected it’s #2 seed, #6 ranked Cincinnati, 25-4, 15-3. Beat them by 19 there, 25 here.

3/12: 86-76. Closest game of the season; previous closest was 14 points. 42 for Cull, who couldn’t miss; 22, 12 for Phil.

Jack Olse, who rarely plays, sprained an ankle. Out about 10 days.

33-0. We should be #1 overall.

We are.

12-19 UMKC in the 1st round.

3/14: Daisy had neck surgery today. There was a lot to trim and to clean up.

3/16: 67-41. 16, 7 for Tann, 14, 5, 4 for Robb.

#8 seed Wake Forest, 22-10, in the 2nd round.

3/18: 88-67. 13, 16 for Wall, 16, 11 for Tann. 55 and 8.

#4 seed, #12 ranked Kansas, 24-9, in the Sweet Sixteen.

3/23: 81-55. 25, 2, 3 for Cull, 13, 12 for Call. 41, 9.

#7 seed, #23 ranked Boise ST, 24-8, in the Elite Eight.

3/25: 82-63. We were down 17 early, got it to 5 at the half, and dominated the 2nd half. We could have shot better, especially early. 44 and 9.

#2 seed, #7 ranked Creighton, 30-5, in the national semifinal. We beat them by 25 in the 2nd game of the season.

On the other side it’s #4 ranked Syracuse vs. unranked #10 seed Texas.

4/1: 80-57.20, 10 for Phil, 18, 6, 2, 2 for Cull, 11, 9, 4, 3 for Call, 12, 9, 2 for Tann. 47 and 13.

#1 seed, #4 ranked, #8 RPI Syracuse, 32-5 for the title. They have an excellent PG. If we can control him reasonably well we should not have a problem.

4/3: They played slow down, and that kept it close for a while. We were only up 4 at the half. In the end they didn’t make enough baskets. 56-41. 20, 14, 2 for Rod Call, 8, 17 for John Wall. 59 RBs, 11 TOs.

We won every game all season by double figures. The only time we were seriously behind this season was in the round of 8 vs. Boise ST, and we p[assed that test easily in the end.

4/4: Awards: Rod Call was Final Four MOP, Dee Phil made 2nd team All American. I got national COY. In conf., Dee Phil was Frosh OY, Rod Call was Defensive POY, those two and Sha Cull made 1st team. John Wall and Joe Tann made 2nd team.

4/23: We ask for a facilities upgrade.

39-0, national title. +25.5 PPG, +14.8 RBs, +6.2 TOs, +6.0 assists, +5.3 blocks, +3.2 steals. Every win was by 10 or more.

65 game win streak.

Title #4 on the men’s side to go with my 4 on the women’s side.

Hell of a year!