March Madness Profile #2: Sayonara Rick Majerus

Rick Majerus isn't exactly out of college basketball, it just feels that way. After thriving, yet struggling, up and down the sidelines as the coach of the Mormon-friendly Utah Utes from 1989-2004, Majerus accepted the head coaching job at USC, only to change his mind days later. The jovial, rotund, larger-than-life figure spent the next three seasons working as an analyst for ESPN. It has been debated that Marjerus took time away from coaching for health reasons, and there are reports stating that issues related to his heart led Rick away from college hoops and his Utah Utes. In case you didn't know, Rick is back coaching college basketball at the Division I level, currently leading the St. Louis Billikens. Side tangent here - A Billiken is a sort of talisman...a symbol of good luck. I'm ripping the following off the St. Louis University website, but apparently in 1908, Florence Pretz (an art teacher and illustrator) got a patent for her rendition of an ancient Asian figure - a chubby little guy with "pixie" ears, fat cheeks, and a grin from ear-to-ear. I don't know how this exactly manifested itself, but it must have been in some kind of drawing or painting, or even as some kind of manufactured doll; because there are three levels of luck involved with a Billiken - good, better, and best. It's good luck if one purchases a Billiken, it is better luck if one receives a Billiken as a gift, and the best luck comes to the person who steals a Billiken. Anyway, some local journalists thought that the St. Louis head coach looked like one of these Billikens and somehow, that became the school's mascot. See how informative and educational this blog can be? I'm not seeing it either. And you'll never be able to get those 20 seconds of your life back where I went off about Billikens. Back to our favorite corpulent coach. Rick Majerus and his St. Louis squad lost in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament yesterday, falling to The University of Dayton in overtime. Sadly, Majerus is pretty much off the national radar while he coaches an average program in an average league. You gotta think, hope, and believe that with his presence and personality, Coach Majerus will be able to build St. Louis back into a NCAA Tournament team in time. Rick turned 60 last month and hopefully a little time away from the national spotlight will keep him healthy and energetic enough to continue to thrive as a coach, teacher, cult-figure, analyst, and jester for years to come. Let us mourn the 2007-2008 season coming to an end for Coach Majerus by enjoying one of his (many) memorable quotes: "Some guys smoke. Some guys drink. Some guys chase women. I'm a big barbecue-sauce guy."... "I'm like that guy on the Odd Couple, and it's not the neat guy. I go into my room and find pieces of pizza under the laundry." Oh hell...I have to throw this clip in here as well...it's just too much fun (watch Steve Lavin start to lose it, and how quickly they cut away from the two-shot, classic). Majerus was also named Playboy Magazine Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1998. Is there anything this guy can't do? The NCAA Tournament just isn't the same with out the gregarious Rick Majerus involved in some way, shape, or form. Good season coach. Stay healthy Rick. I'll share a meal (and a 4XL tall sweater) with you any time. Be well.