Doug,

I can definitely understand the arguments against Petrino because of character issues and as an Arkansas fan it does concern me. However, I do have to take exception with your statement that Arkansas fans are ‘delusional’. In fact, I think it’s part of a greater national perception that everyone in Arkansas is uneducated, toothless, and possibly incestuous.

I don’t see anything wrong about a team with the financial backing that Arkansas has (Waltons, Tysons, Jerry Jones) and facilities that are consistently ranked number one in the SEC and top nationally expecting to be a top tier program. They have a better football history than Virginia Tech, but no one calls Hokies fans delusional for expecting a championship contender.

Lastly, as amazing is at may seem, Petrino is actually an upgrade character-wise over Houston Nutt. Nutt was the Arkansas equivalent of Caligula and had succeeded in putting up a mediocre year with two Heisman-caliber running backs, just the most recent of several disappointing seasons under Nutt. All the while, he was running off our top recruits (Mustain and Williams transferred to USC) and one of the top young coordinators in college football Gus Malzahn.

I’m excited about the hire, and woo pig sooie.

Sincerely,

Lane from Arkansas, fully toothed and educated

Outstanding e-mail.

I actually think Little Rock is one of the best cities in our country. I think you would agree with me though that my opinion of most Arkansans, which was drawn on my drives between Memphis and Little Rock, is pretty valid based on the portion of the state I saw.

The one thing we didn’t get to though: I think he’ll be successful too.

Hi Doug:

How are you? I listen to Doug and Wolf show every day. I always liked the honest opinion you guys give everyday. I was disappointed by this morning show.

I never heard about you talking about players kids tuition or family when you talked about Barry
Bonds. All I heard was “CHEATER.”

I used to defend when my friends call you racist pig, but now I think maybe some part of my mind you are that person my friend refers to.

Thanks!

I don’t know if I will be able to trust you again.

Vino

Anyone who calls me a racist is an idiot and is looking to find racism.

I talked about family in response to the 25th guy on a roster who thinks about using steroids so he doesn’t lose his job. I talked about family as I looked at a trainer who had to make the decision whether or not to speak to Mitchell despite a fear of losing a job or losing the trust of the team. It did not matter to me the race of the 25th player or of the trainer. You heard what you wanted to hear.

You didn’t hear me talk about family as it relates to Roger Clemens, but I’m sure there’s some other sad reason you will come up with on why I attacked him.

Where were you when I worked in the South and lost friendships because I realized a white friend of mine was racist? Where were you when I walked away from a restaurant contract in Athens, OH, because the owner told me he roots against Georgetown because they don’t have any white guys? I will bet you Gambo’s salary that I have done more to raise money for the Negro League Hall of Fame than you or any of your friends have done. Has Buck O’Neil ever thanked you for what you’ve done for him? How many hours have you spent on the phone lobbying baseball to put Buck O’Neil in his rightful place? Do I need to start e-mailing you copies of the checks my wife sends to the Ebony Heritage Chior she supports?

You and your friends are racist people. You heard honest opinions from a white man and automatically assumed I must be racist because you didn’t like the opinions. Your ignorance astounds me. I stand on a ledge and protect Hank Aaron’s record so you can sit around and call me racist. As I am part of the solution in this country, you are the very root of the problem.

You don’t know me from Adam, sir. I have learned all needed to know about you.

Doug:

You band wagon hopping wimp. Stop calling the Spurs the Sterns. You haven’t lived here for a year yet and now you’re the biggest band wagon jumping fan ever heard. The Sun lost because they suck and until they realize the season is 82 games and you cant win a championship playing playground basketball they will be the Buffalo Bills of the NBA. When you go to Ohio, do the Valley a favor and stay there please

Cecil

Let’s look at your points with an intellect that you don’t have. Don’t you think that since I work at a station that airs Suns basketball that I can get a closer to the team faster than the average new arrival to Phoenix? Have you met Steve Nash? Have you met anyone on the inside of the organization? You are not aware of this since you’re wrapped into your own little world but there are more people than just the basketball players that make up the organization. With this franchise, the people behind the scenes and the players are really good people. Why do I have to explain to you that I’ve become a fan of an organization with good people as players and staff and an organization that gives so much to charity it’s unbelievable? The Suns are the best run sports franchise I’ve ever seen. As I get to know more people, I take a stronger interest in the Suns success because I want them to win for those people. Sure, I’m selfish in the sense that I enjoy the way the Suns play basketball but I really enjoy the way people in the organization have treated me and I want the team to reward those people with a championship. I know none of this makes sense to someone as self-centered as you.

Obviously, you do not speak for the valley. It doesn’t make any sense that a co-host of the highest rated sports-talk morning show would be doing the valley a favor by staying somewhere else. This is proof of your ignorance on any subject you bring up. You thought it would be funny to insult someone based on your opinion of them. Since you don’t have enough friends to wake you up to this fact, let me explain: your opinions are not based on any tangible fact but only this misinformation you’ve filled your own head with.

I will always listen to people’s opinions on the show if they have a shred of knowledge about the subject matter of which they speak. Since you are not in that category, I’m sorry to inform you I won’t be receiving your e-mails anymore, as they will be blocked from my server. I receive over 100 e-mails a day and it doesn’t make sense to waste time returning e-mails from someone that does not benefit the advancement of the show. There are too many other listeners whose knowledge of the subject matter is higher than yours that it is a disservice to them to put their e-mails on hold. I don’t mind when people of low understanding e-mail me seeking knowledge. When someone has no idea what they’re talking about speaks with the arrogance that can only be reserved

I hope you still enjoy the show even if it is only when Wolf talks.

Doug:

Before you begin the usual rhetoric after the Suns loss to the Mavs, consider this.

1. The Mavs played the best game they are capable of.

2. With the exception of a few small sprits, the Suns could not have played worse.

3. And, we only lost by 3

Clearly, as they always do, the Suns will mesh more as the season goes on. As for the Mavs, this is their peak.

By the way, it’s not a secret around town that you have a hatred for the Suns that you aren’t good at hiding. You may want to work on that if you plan on being successful here in the Valley.

Wayne

I want to make sure I understand this. Cecil hates me because I’m a Suns fan. You hate me because I’m not. If that’s the case, I must be successful already.

Doug,

I gotta agree with you completely on the Suns struggles. I feel like there is something that is deeply wrong with this team. After watching them so far this season, I’m convinced that Nash is the only reason this team is still winning games (without him, I don’t think they’re even a .500 team) and it does look like they are not looking to him as the leader anymore.

I just don’t feel the Suns have any continuity as a team; I think it is a bunch of really talented guys, not selfish on the court, but also not truly playing as a team. And, as much as I HATE the Sterns, they play as a team. When things are going well, it’s as a team. When they lose, it’s as a team. And I do think this will be a problem come April. We’ve only got Nash for so much longer, I want the Suns to get that championship so badly, but unless something drastically changes, I just can’t see them getting there this year.

Thanks for taking my email, love the show!

Ethan

Thank you for the kind words. You and I are on an island on this one. You wouldn’t believe the insults I get because I want to see more from the Suns. Some people actually think that means I’m not a real Suns fan since I place high expectations on a team that I think has everything it takes talent-wise to win a championship.

BTW, Ethan, don’t call them the Sterns, it upsets Cecil.