Ferentz signs new deal, gets private plane for recruiting

Kirk Ferentz signed a new contract extension with the Iowa Hawkeyes through 2015. According to the Des Moines Register, the money hasn't changed, but Ferentz has one new benefit added to the deal.

This new contract gives Kirk access to a private jet for recruiting and personal use, a jet that he can use for up to 35 hours annually.

“He’s earned that opportunity,” athletic director Gary Barta said. "Access to a plane provides a form of compensation that recognizes the extreme time demands placed on him throughout the year."

The DM Register also cites a 2006 USA Today article that said Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, Virginia's Al Groh, and Ohio State's Jim Tressel all have access to a private jet in the contracts as well.

Ferentz, who led the Hawks to an Outback Bowl victory last season against South Carolina, will earn an annual salary of $3.02 million

For more info...
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090720/SPORTS020502/90720012

What do former Cubs pitcher Matt Clement and Kenny Powers have in common?

Former pitcher Matt Clement had a major league career he could be proud of. A nine year major league career, consisting of 87 career victories and an All-Star game appearance in 2005. However, injuries cut the 34-year-old's career short, forcing him to retire in April 2009, although he hadn't appeared in a Major League game since 2006.

So what is the former 14 game winner with the Cubs doing now?

Fans of the HBO show Eastbound & Down will appreciate this. He's taking the Kenny Powers approach to career building.

This past June, Clement was hired to coach high school basketball at his alma mater, Butler High School in Pennsylvania. It's not quite teaching P.E. in North Carolina, but it's certainly a step down. I mean, a former major league pitcher coaching basketball?

Clement seems much more enthusiastic about the opportunity than Powers was.

"I'm very excited and honored to get this opportunity, and I don't take this responsibility lightly," Clement told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Still no word on whether Clement is going to sell his old memorabilia out of the back of his car and attempt to regain the affection of his high school sweetheart, who is now engaged to the Principal.

Iowa Basketball signs son of former Hawkeye Legend

Earlier this month, Todd Lickliter picked up a committment for the 2010 recruiting class. He is the son of a former Hawkeye great, in fact, his father is the all-time leader scorer in school history.

I'm referring to Roy Marble. Marble, who played from 1986-1989, scored 2,116 points and led the Hawks to a Elite 8 and Sweet 16 appearance.

His son, Roy Marble Jr., a 6'5", 175-pound shooting guard, committed to Iowa on July 2nd . The Southfield, Michigan native averaged 22 points and 9 rebounds during his junior season. According to Rivals.com, Marble hd also received offers from Dayton and Providence.

"Even if he hadn't gone to Iowa, I probably would have still picked them," he said in the Des Moines Register. "As far as him being the career scoring leader, that's a challenge. But it was more of a worry to my parents than to me. I'll do whatever needs to be done. I'm not saying I'm going to break his records. I'm just going to play to the best of my abilities."

Here's what ESPN has to say about Marble Jr.

"Roy is a solid wing guard with a lot of potential. He has been improving a great deal this summer. He is good (not great) in almost all facets of the game. Marble is a solid shooter with range to 20 feet. He is able to create his own shot some but I would not call that a strength at this point. He is good at the "catch and shoot" and when he gets to the rim he has solid athleticism that allows him to finish above the basket. Roy is long and thin and has a tremendous upside. He should be a good long term get for the Hawkeyes."

Dear Marty Havlat,....Shut Up!

During his tenure with the Hawks, I was a huge fan of Marty Havlat. He was a great player in his three years with the Hawks and was an integral part of the playoff run this past year.

But really Marty, it's time to shut the hell up. For those who don't know, Havlat was a free agent this offseason, the Hawks elected not to re-sign him, signing ex-Red Wing Marian Hossa instead. Havlat has since signed with the Minnesota Wild.

The former Hawks winger, like many other celebrities and athletes, has become more or less obsessed with twitter. He has found it to be the perfect medium to rip the Hawks organization. Here is just a little taste of what he has said...

July 1st: "Excited to be in Minny where I was welcomed and appreciated by management. The real story about what happened in Chicago to come out."

July 1st: "There's something to be said for loyalty and honor."

July 14th: "As I said before, I didn't leave Chicago, it left me."

He then went on to tell the Canadian TSN.com that Hawks President John McDonough fired former GM Dale Tallon because McDonough was jealous that Tallon was receiving all the credit for turning the Hawks from a last place team to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

It's time for Havlat to move on and stop being bitter about his breakup with the Hawks. He is a part of the Minnesota Wild now, and that should be his focus. There was no way that the Blackhawks were going to re-sign him, he was an oft-injured player and Marian Hossa is clearly a better player than him.

I'm going to leave readers with one of my favorite shots of the 2009 NHL Playoffs. This is how I'm going to remember Marty Havlat.

Boise Hawks promotion, like economy, struggles

This past May, I wrote a story about how the economy is affecting Minor League Baseball. The primary promotion that I covered was the Boise Hawks "economy night." The Hawks are giving away 400 tickets for free to anyone that shows up to the park with an unemployment stub in hand.

"The economy night certainly had a lot of buzz," Hawks GM Todd Rahr said. "But it didn't pan out so well the first night."

On the first "economy night" of the season, only 80 of the 400 tickets were used. "I'm somewhat concerned that presenting your unemployment stub may be embarrassing to some people."

Rahr wants unemployed fans to see this promotion as a way to give back. "I really wish people would look at this as a pure promotion that has no other motives than to allow people to have a night out on the Hawks"

As the economy night promotion struggles, so do the Hawks. The team is currently 9-16, eight games out of first place in their league.

WOW...It's been a long time

Hey everyone,

Been a while since you've heard from me, I've been super busy working as an intern @ ESPN Radio in Chicago. But do not fear, I am going to start writing some more blog posts since the summer is beginning to wind down and its almost time to head back to school...Stay tuned...

Hawkeye Hoopsters Vacationing in Europe

The Iowa basketball team will get some much-needed extra practice this summer as they travel to Italy and Greece for a 10-day overseas trip. The Hawks will play four exhibition games, one in Rome and three in Greece, playing against older, more experienced professional teams. The Hawks will also be able to have 10 full team practices.

Every four years, the NCAA allows men's and women's teams to travel overseas and compete.

"We know we're going against professionals," Devan Bawinkel said on Hawkeyesports.com. "We've got to improve ourselves to get to that level. I think we can compete with them."