Dave from Dayton

I agree with 94B. Marketing an intangible is different from marketing a product that is in a box. A soft and genuine pitch and follow through is paramount. One has to show that the buyer's best interest is paramount. What do they want? Can we and will we make that available and help them. Present that. Listen with the intent to understand. This does not mean that the sales effort is disorganized. On the contrary, it has to be well orchestrated and specific. A hard close, to me, implies that the seller's needs outweigh the buyer's needs. The buyer is usually aware of that perspective. It's a bum rush. But different young adults will have different motivations that require different approaches. if the buyer is confused...clarify the points both good and bad. Ascertain who is going to make the decision or lead the decision making of the buyer. Target market that. One point is true, whether tangible (like a car) or delayed intangible (like a service or scholarship)...if you don't ask, you don't get. If the young adult has it in his mind to walk away and think about it, it is a delayed, delayed intangible. That is a toughie. A continuing helpful relationship and personal contact usually is the ticket. But old habits and old ways are hard to break. Comfort areas are hard to pierce. Especially if the prospect walks away. But if the person wants to just get it done. Sign him up. Indiana is a hard sell if one comes from either coast. The expansion of the B1G to the coasts just may help that a little. Woody and Ya and Schifino and Anunoby and TJD sure help there. Fans that think that Indiana stands head and shoulders above the crowd of universities chasing these prospects are deluded. That is part of the reason why having a great basketball coach and staff are so very important. And that is coming from an IU grad that married an IU grad.

On one hand, stay at Oregon. On the other hand, Indiana. On the other hand, Alabama. On the other hand, Georgia...uh...

Did ribs with a rub and mesquite. Indirect heat on grill. Pan of water under the ribs which were on foil. Smoked them and turned them on about 235 degrees F for 4 hours. Wrapped them in the foil with applejuice._left them on the grill for another couple of hours. Drained the juice and grease. Flamed the ribs a little. Put a little Kansas/Texas sauce on them. Meanwhile sipping on a little bourbon. Just a tad of the bourbon...per sip. Doctored some pork and beans. And a green salad with cranberries and red onion and wine vinaigrette. Local craft amber or more bourbon...wife was starting to look good. Maybe I didn't phrase that properly. That was the other day. Got leftovers. Easter is fruited flank steak, asparagus sauteed, and family is bringing the wine and after-dinner goodies. Having an Easter Bonnet challenge. With prizes. You would not believe mine.

We all can envision the discussion. Woody: You've got the tools. We've got the strength and conditioning coach. Look at what TJD did in his growth. He was kind of quiet. At the end he was flaming and leading. Ware: I don't know. Maybe... Woody: It's up to you Kel'el...do you want it enough? I can help you but you have to do it yourself. You have to work at it. Ware: What about girls? Woody: Well, Josh says they are hot. And IU will get you an NIL so you can share those pictures with Josh and get some tats and a head band. Ware: I'm all in!

Prove it. All these rumors. Send me some pictures of the hot chicks.

Unofficially... As reported by a mod The Daily Hoosier on that site... "...IU staff has been very confident about this since yesterday." "we got him." Probably working out details of the NIL, etc. It's not over until...Martha sings in SSAH and Ware is in the candy stripe pants.

Far out...high!! Sometimes a recruit just don't 'juana.

The linked article seems to me to mean that Ware likes the personal connections. Accusations of Portal Target Kel’el Ware's Laziness Deserve Deeper Look (bestofarkansassports.com) And it does not address the lazy aspect directly. The main focus was/is that Ware was feeling alone at Oregon. I'm guessing that this was already linked on this site. My apologies for old news...4/1.

Well, no one has to go to Bama in order to be unhappy.

Well, the next time something like that happens...I hope that you are with someone.

Depression: the gift that is caused by unreasonable expectations...and bad jokes. I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in. Dave for two! My doctor prescribed a new drug for depression called Enditol. I used to suffer from depression. But by hard work, perseverance and never giving up..I now suffer from anxiety, too. To whomever stole my anti-depression medications...I hope you are happy. I'd tell another joke. But you would hate it.

Where there's smoke: 1. There's liar? 2. There's poke? 3. There's a toaster oven? 4. There's BBQ? 5. In my hotel in SE Florida, a female building attendant asked me to smoke some weed with her. I told her no. I can't deal with high maintenance women. Exit, stage left. Gotta get another hat. Hasta la vista, baby. Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are. You say goodbye...I say they are coming to take me away..ha ha

I heard it through the gripevine... Woody is suiting up.

Uh...I have a different perspective. His whole recruiting the portal season really is in the first third of the season. He has gotten to bat and gotten one decent hit, so far. Why not let him step up to bat in each game and swing at many more pitches the whole season before giving him the ole Bronx cheer? He really does know that he has to get more really good players. Better than we do. I will bet one (and only one) drink* that he does a decent job getting players out of the portal this season. I'm not clutching at my pearls like I did the last two decades plus. IU men's basketball is going to look a lot different when we get some players that can hit shots, make their own shots, defend better, and go after loose balls like their hair is on fire. The choice is a shot doctor or just more shots*.

All Indiana has to do is move to the southeast coast, or San Diego. That and promise the starting positions to transfers. Oh, and possibly $2 million per year for NILs, well in todays $$$$. Oh, and we need some flexibility on those education and classroom and grades issues. And we have to really provide assists, on court, to the stars. We can get you to the next level, furshure. And if the LEO (Law Enforcement Officers) drop by, the administration must know nothing...nothing. A job for dear old Dad would be nice. That house on the lake...yeah. Hot wheels and cute drivers...wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Discipline...fagetaboutit. Semi-Pro??? Play like your hair is on fire! And just shoot it.

Marketing an intangible is a challenge for the best out there. One doesn't close successfully a lot of the time. It is still early.

Something like inconsistency at PG, lack of hitting outside shots, players not able to create plays, inconsistent defense and effort, low free throw percentages, shallow bench, not having the refuse to lose mentality, having a tradition of losing not winning, lack of leadership...want me to go on? Hey it's a competitive racket. Woody has gotten the team to improve each year. Need the PGs to be top notch all year.

My wife and I graduated the year IU went undefeated. I would not trade that for...well, what's the offer?

I understand. My biggest fear is that IU won't hang another NCAA National Championship banner within the next decade or so. That and the old mantra about peace on Earth...and love is everywhere...except towards Purdon't.

My mother-in-law had both depression and dementia. Really tough double whammy. There is a wonderful book that really gave tools and advice that all should have.

She Who Must Be Obeyed is usually meek and mild mannered. Passive resistance type...except for during Indiana basketball games. It's not too bad when we are in public at a sports bar. At home she rants at missed opportunities, bad refereeing, lack of defense..etc. She doesn't use those four-letter words. But she is extremely clear in what she is emoting about. When the other team is on a run, I run. I turn down my hearing aids. Move away from the flailing arms. Get as far out of range as possible. Wear full-body spittle protection. I've installed grounding rods just in case. I get excited. But, wow. Don't pop a cork, lady.

Get Offa My Lawn!