Is it the lies?/ Is it the style?/ It’s a mercenary territory/ I wish you knew the story/ I’ve been out here so long dreamin’ up songs/ I’m temporarily qualmless and sinking

Ignoring my own admonition, that what I see while staring relentlessly into the weltschmertz of the Portal.

Mercenary territory.

Wish I knew the story.

Lots of ballers, thousands of them — 3,500 according to Seth Davis, only 500 committed — scurrying about, hands out.*

*Before we go any further, I want to explain something. I do not wish to come across as some cranky old guy, objectifying how much better it was in the good old days, two hand set shot and all. How loyalty mattered. Yes, I’m cranky. And old. But I accept the new reality, as mondo bizzaro as it is getting. 

It’s just driving this hoopaholic nuts.

The silence is deafening.

I doubt I’m alone. There are hoopaholics across the land fretting similarly.

That admonition that I’m not heeding: Seedy, don’t let the whims of some late teen or early twentysomething college basketball player dictate your personal well being.

Yet, here I am, on a gorgeous spring day, sitting at my computer obsessively typing in the search term “Kasean Pryor,” googling up what latest news there might be on that particular individual.

This is not healthy.

And the silence is deafening.

Just a week ago before addressing the turquoise blazer crowd at the They’re Off schmooze and booze, Pat Kelsey indicated next season’s roster is just about complete.

Since then, I can turn the volume up to 11, and . . .

. . . nothin’.

Yesterday fellow hoopaholic Smarts inquired whether I believe the presence of Pryor is necessary for the Cardinals success next year?

Not really, so I believe.

The guy’s an alpha dog, willing to mix it up underneath. But he’s a ball stopper on offense. Would his continuing presence last season have meant more Ws? I dunno. Oklahoma, maybe. Georgia Tech???

What I do believe is the Cards did just fine in his absence.

So, no, getting Pryor to stay would be good, but not absolutely necessary.

That opinned . . . the Cards do need another brawler underneath. Whether it’s the bleached blonde dude who seems to be overvaluing himself or somebody in the Portal.

 * * * * *

When I saw the photo of Koren Johnson, late of U of L’s IL now committed to Ole Miss, flashing an L’s Down sign, I’m thinkin’, “Dude, why?”

He was provided healthcare, rehab, a welcoming environment.

You want to move? Cool. Why burn bridges. Card Nation gave you nothing but love.

Kids these days. (OK, that’s a cranky old man exasperation.)

 * * * * *

So, with 3000 or so portal dwellers to choose from, I gotta assume Pat Kelsey and staff are considering all their options.

An intriguing rumor.

6-7 Chad Baker-Mazara, late of Auburn.

The guy is tough. The guy can score.

But the guy can also go off. Play dirty actually. Sometime. Just lose his head and focus on occasion.

Why do I mention him? Because some guy somewhere in my incessant consuming of all matters Portal, said U of L and Arch Rival are pursuing. C B-M.

 * * * * *

A couple of parameters to remember viz a viz all this.

The “Dead Period,” when players can visit potential landing spots has ended.

The date for entry into the portal is April 22.

Which I mention, because sometime I move beyond opinion and my shtick to provide actual facts.

Then again, given how the courts have ruled so far, almost universally against any strictures to this out of control process, why would any player or school abide by those rules?

 * * * * *

Anyway, what we need is clarity.

Help!!!!!

Anybody????

Naismithius? The Spirit Ghost of Jimmy V? Dick Paparro? Red Klotz?

“So we beat on, boats against the current  . . . ”

— c d k